This ppt includes the basic information related to RTI like its mode of filing by both online and offline and also includes some information related to RTI Amendment Bill 2019.

1. RighttoinformationAct,
2005
MEENU SAJEEV
MA LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT
RGNIYD, CHENNAI

2. What is Information?
o As per the RTI Act, Section2(f)RT Act, “information” means
any material in any form, including records, documents,
memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars,
orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models,
data material held in any electronic form and information
relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public
authority under any other law for the time being in force.

3. RTI - Introduction
o The Right to Information Act is a law established by
the Parliament of India to provide a medium for citizens to
access information under the control of the public authorities.
o It was approved by the Parliament on 15 June 2005
o Came into power on 13 October 2005.
o The RTI Act orders timely response to every citizen requests
for government data within 30 days.
o Under the Right to Information Act, all public authorities must
appoint Public Information Officer (PIO) in their Office.
o The highest authority under the Act is the Chief Information
Commissioner (CIC), who shall accept and inquire complaints
from any person.

4. o This Right includes inspection of works, documents and
records, taking notes, extracts or certified copies of
documents or records and taking certified samples of material
held by the public authority or held under the control of public
authority.
o As per the act, the information which can not be denied to the
parliament or a state legislature, shall not be denied to any
person.

5. Objective of RTI
o The basic objective of the Right to Information Act is to
empower the citizens, promote transparency and
accountability in the working of the Government and make
our democracy work for the people in real sense.
o An informed citizen will be better equipped to keep necessary
vigil on the instruments of government and make the
government more accountable to the governed.

6. Information exempted from
disclosure
o Section 8 and section 9 Act enumerate the categories of
information, which are exempted from disclosure.
o Schedule II of the Act contains the names of Intelligence and
Security Organisations which are exempted from the purview
of the Act.
o Cabinet papers includes the records of deliberations of the
Council of Ministers, Secretaries and Other officers subject to
the provision of Section 8.
o Some information disclosure which will affect the integrity and
sovereignty, security, strategic, scientific, economic and
foreign relations of the State.

7. Mode of data collection
o The RTI Act determines that citizens have a privilege to
request any data (as characterized);
• take duplicates of reports;
• review archives, works and records;
• take certified sample of materials of work; and
• acquire data as printouts, diskettes, floppies, tapes, video
tapes or in any other electronic mode.

8. Process of filing a RTI
o Department Identification
o Writing the Application Properly:
• Follow the prescribed format
• To give emphasis on the particular subject that we want
information
o Make payment of fees:
• Attach application fee of Rs. 10/- in the form of Indian Postal
Order.
o Send application:
• Send the RTI application via speed post/registered post and
wait for the government’s response.

9. Contd….
• Under the Act, all authorities covered must appoint their Public
Information Officer (PIO).
• Any person may submit a request to the PIO for information in
writing.
• It is the PIO's obligation to provide information to citizens of India
who request information under the Act.
• If the request pertains to another public authority (in whole or part),
it is the PIO's responsibility to transfer/forward the concerned
portions of the request to a PIO of the other within 5 working days.
• In addition, every public authority is required to designate Assistant
Public Information Officers (APIOs) to receive RTI requests and
appeals for forwarding to the PIOs of their public authority.
• The applicant is not required to disclose any information or reasons
other than his name and contact particulars to seek the information.

11. How frequently one can apply for
RTI?
• We can file an RTI everyday or twice a day or as frequently as
we want.
• Only thing is, once we have filed an RTI - we should wait for
30 days for the PIO to reply (except for life and liberty issues
which are to be replied within 48 hours) before filing an
appeal.
• In case reply is received and RTI applicant is not satisfied, then
the RTI applicant will have to file first appeal

12. RTI Amendment Bill, 2019
• The Lok Sabha passes the amendment bill on July 22, 2019
and Rajya Sabha passes the bill in July 25, 2019.
• In the 2019 RTI amendment bill, the Narendra Modi
government has done away with the fixed tenure of five years
for the chief information commissioners and the information
commissioners.
• Their salaries too have been altered.
• Both will now be separately notified by the government of the
day.

13. ComparisonoftheprovisionsoftheRighttoInformationAct,
2005andtheRighttoInformation(Amendment)Bill,2019
Provision RTI Act, 2005 RTI (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Term The Chief Information
Commissioner (CIC) and
Information Commissioners
(ICs) (at the central and state
level) will hold office for a term
of five years.
The Bill removes this
provision and states that the
central government will
notify the term of office for
the CIC and the ICs.
Quantum of
Salary
The salary of the CIC and ICs (at
the central level and state level)
will be equivalent to the salary
paid to the Chief Election
Commissioner and Election
Commissioners, respectively.
The Bill removes these
provisions and states that the
salaries, allowances, and
other terms and conditions
of service of the central and
state CIC and ICs will be
determined by the central
government.

14. Provision RTI Act, 2005 RTI (Amendment) Bill,
2019
Deductions in Salary The Act states that at the
time of the appointment
of the CIC and ICs (at the
central and state level), if
they are receiving
pension or any other
retirement benefits for
previous government
service, their salaries will
be reduced by an
amount equal to the
pension.
The Bill removes these
provisions.

15. THANK YOU