This document details the minutes of a pre-bid meeting held on August 3, 2009, chaired by JS(AT&A). The meeting involved organizations shortlisted to be the Knowledge Partner and National Resource Centre. Key organizations present included Centre for Good Governance, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, JPS Associates, PRIA, Deloitte, and Grant Thornton. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was also issued to...
This guide provides updated information on the Right to Information Act, 2005, consolidating previous guidelines to assist all stakeholders. It clarifies the definition of ‘information’ and ‘public authority,’ outlines the roles of Public Information Officers and Assistant Public Information Officers, and details citizens’ rights to seek information. The document...
This office memorandum from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions emphasizes the importance of maintaining records properly, as mandated by Section 4 of the Right to Information Act. The Central Information Commission has highlighted that a lack of systematic record-keeping leads to incomplete and misleading information being provided by Public Information Officers. The...
This Office Memorandum clarifies the scope of fee payment for information requests under the Right to Information Act, 2005. It addresses concerns regarding Public Information Officers (PIOs) charging fees beyond those prescribed by the Act and the Right to Information (Regulation of Fee & Cost) Rules, 2005. The document emphasizes that PIOs cannot charge any fee other than what is explicitly...
This office memorandum addresses confusion arising from the inclusion of the word ‘like’ in a previous memorandum concerning a High Court of Bombay at Goa decision. It clarifies that the word ‘like’, when used before ‘why’ in the context of defining information under the Right to Information Act, 2005, should be treated as deleted. The memorandum reiterates...
This communication from the Government of India’s Department of Personnel and Training clarifies the scope of information that public authorities are obligated to provide under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. It emphasizes that the Act mandates the supply of information that is already in existence and held by the public authority, not the creation of new information, analysis, or...
This notification from the Department of Personnel and Training clarifies the procedure for collecting additional charges for information requested under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The Central Information Commission has observed that some Public Information Officers are informing applicants about these charges only towards the end of the 30-day statutory period for providing information...
This document provides an updated and comprehensive guide to the Right to Information Act, 2005. It aims to empower citizens, promote transparency and accountability in government, and curb corruption. The guide details what constitutes ‘information’ and who qualifies as a ‘public authority’ under the Act. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of Public Information...
This office memorandum reiterates the importance of complying with the guidelines for suo-motu disclosure under Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005. It highlights that the initial deadline for operationalizing these guidelines was April 15, 2013, with a subsequent requirement to submit an Action Taken Report on compliance within six months. The memorandum notes that many Ministries, Departments, and...
A recent directive from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Personnel & Training, communicates a High Court of Kolkata order concerning the personal details of RTI applicants. The court ruled that authorities should not insist on detailed addresses from applicants, especially when a post box number is provided, as this adequately facilitates contact...