This Office Memorandum from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training, dated June 20, 2017, reinforces the need to protect personal information, including Aadhaar numbers, within Right to Information (RTI) applications and appeals. It references previous directives and guidelines from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) concerning the Aadhar Act, 2016, and the Information Technology Act, 2000. All Ministries and Departments are instructed to ensure that personal details like Aadhaar numbers are not requested when handling RTI applications. Furthermore, if an Aadhaar number is included in any RTI application, appeal, or reply, it must be kept hidden from public view when these documents are uploaded to websites. The aim is to safeguard sensitive personal data in compliance with existing legislation.
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F. No. 1/1/2013-IR (pt.)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
IR (Division)
North Block, New Delhi
Dated 20th June, 2017
Office Memorandum
Subject:- Securing the Personal information including Aadhar No., in RTI Applications/ Appeals in compliance to Aadhar Act, 2016 and Information Technical Act, 2000.
The undersigned is directed to refer to this department’s OM of even no. dated 21.10.2014, 23.03.2016 and 07.10.2016 vide which it has been requested that personal information of an RTI applicant should not be disclosed, while uploading the application/ appeal etc. on the public domain/ websites.
2. In this context, it is to be stated that Ministry of Electronics And Information Technology (Meity) have circulated guidelines for securing Identity information and Sensitive personal data or information in compliance to Aadhar Act, 2016 and Information Technology Act, 2000, wherein they have instructed that personal particular and information including Aadhar No. etc. should not be published in public domain/websites etc.
2. In view of the above, it is requested that all Ministries/Departments of Govt. of India including the subordinate offices may ensure the following while handling RTI applications viz. receiving, replying and uploading on websites etc.:-
(a) the personal information details like Aadhar no. should not be asked for while handling RTI applications.
(b) that the Aadhar no. or such other personal information is hidden from public view while uploading the RTI applications/ Appeals/ Replies to the RTI applications on websites, if Aadhar no. is mentioned therein.
(Preeti Khanna)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
To
All Ministries/Department of Govt of India