This document communicates the recommendations of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, specifically from its 76th Report concerning Section 4 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. It emphasizes the importance of appointing a Joint Secretary rank officer as a Nodal Officer for implementing RTI guidelines. The Committee strongly advocates for proactive disclosure by all Ministries and Departments, suggesting that they should encourage the publication of RTI requests and their corresponding replies on their websites. This proactive approach aims to prevent the duplication of requests and ensure that information frequently sought by applicants is readily available. The document directs all concerned Ministries, Departments, and Public Authorities to strictly adhere to these recommendations and ensure compliance.
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F.No.1/1/2013-IR
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
North Block,
New Delhi, dated the 9th July, 2015.
Subject: 76th Report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice – Recommendation regarding suo-motu disclosure under Section 4 of Right to Information Act, 2005.
Reference is invited to this Department’s Office Memorandum No.1/6/2011-IR, dated the 15th April, 2013 wherein all Ministries / Departments were advised to appoint a senior officer not below the rank of a Joint Secretary and not below the rank of Additional HoD in case of attached offices for ensuring compliance with the proactive disclosure guidelines. Subsequently, vide O.M.No.1/1/20-13-IR dated 21st October, 2014, all Ministries / Departments were requested to take action to upload the replies to RTI applications and first appeals on their respective websites. In this context, the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice has, in Para 4.40 of its 76th Report, inter-alia made the following observation / recommendations:
“The direction given by DoPT in their guidelines for implementation of Section 4 of the RTI Act which required appointment of a Joint Secretary rank officer as the Nodal Officer should be followed in letter and spirit. The Committee feels that all Ministries/Departments/Organisations themselves must encourage suo-motu disclosure of relevant information. The Committee suggests the publishing of RTI requests and their replies on the websites of the Departments so that duplicity of requests is avoided. All Departments must make an analysis of information which is sought most often from applicants and provide it on their website as suo-motu disclosure.”
- The above mentioned recommendations of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice are hereby
brought to the notice of all Ministries / Departments and Public Authorities for strict compliance.
3. The contents of this O.M. may also be brought to the notice of Attached / Subordinate Offices and Public Sector Undertakings for necessary compliance.
Joint Secretary to the Government of India
To
- All Ministries / Departments of Government of India
- President’s Secretariat
- Vice President’s Secretariat
- Prime Minister’s Office,
- Cabinet Secretariat
- Lok Sabha Secretariat / Rajya Sabha Secretariat
- Election Commission of India
- O/o The Comptroller \& Auditor General of India
- Secretary Union Public Service Commission
- Secretary, Central Vigilance Commission,
- Secretary, Central Information Commission
- Secretary, Staff Selection Commission
Copy to: Chief Secretaries of all the States / Union Territories
(Devesh Ghaturvedi)
Joint Secretary to the Government of India