How can the provision of information from the offices be made?

The Right to Information Act was enacted by the Parliament on 15 June 2015. It was approved by both the houses and was legally implemented in the country with the assent of the President on 13 October 2005. It replaces the Freedom of Citizens Act 2002. The act gives the power to every citizen of the country to request and get information from any public authority. They are bound by the act to reply and furnish the information within 30 days of application request. Political parties and private bodies do not come under the purview of the act.

Under the act, every citizen has the right to:

• Receive information from any department or office of the State Governments and the Central Government.

• View the documents or records and take certified copies of the same.

• Take the sample materials of their workings.

• Get information on computers, CD, floppy and other storage devices.

Any citizen who wants to receive the information should fill in the application form in the prescribed format. With the application form, an application fees of Rs. 10 has to be deposited as a money order or in cash. The rates will differ according to the method of receiving the information. It the information is to be given in CD or other storage devices Rs. 50 has to be deposited. People wanting photocopied documents will have to pay an extra of Rs. 2. The view the documents and records, Rs. 10 has to be paid initially for 1 hour and Rs. 5 for every additional 15 minutes.

The information regarding state security, science, and economic affairs, confidential information from abroad, information on border security forces and other sensitive details cannot be obtained.

The first appeal for getting the information may be made to the officials in the Panchayats, Municipalities, Secretariat and other government departments within 30 days of getting information from the concerned Information Officer. If the information is not furnished within the first 30 days, the concerned applicant may make a second appeal to the State Information Commission. If the information officer refuses to accept the application or gives false, incomplete or misleading information, they can be penalised with a total fine of Rs. 25,000 or a fine of Rs. 25,000 per day after the receipt of the application.

The act was passed to empower the citizens and promote transparency and accountability in the working of the government. This helps to check corruption and other malpractices in the functioning of the government and the judicial system.