A Comprehensive Guide to Right to Information Act, 2005 for Public Information Officers, First Appellate Authorities and other Government Servants

Ensuring a time bound reply to the RTI applications is an additional responsibility for most of the Public Information Officers (PIOs) and the First Appellate Authorities (FAAs). While a plethora of literature exists for the applicants, there is a virtual absence of reading material which looks at the RTI Act from the point of view of a PIO. This book aims at helping the PIOs and the FAAs in fulfilling their duties efficiently as per the Act.

This Guide is based on a detailed study of more than 50,000 CIC Orders and hundreds of Judgments of Courts. Some of topics comprehensively discussed are :

Scrutiny on receipt of an application

• Is the applicant entitled to file application?
• Does the applicant seek ’information’?
• Has the application been filed properly?
• Is the payment of fees as per law?
• Has the ’Life or Liberty’ been claimed?
• How to obtain information from records?

Processing of an application

• Role of the PIO/APIO/Deemed PIO
• Dealing with an application
• Disposal of first appeal
• Third party information
• Application seeking voluminous information
• Organizations beyond the purview of the Act

Invoking exemption

• How to pass an order?
• Invoking exemption u/ss 8 and 9
• Information older than 20 years
• Infringement of copyright

Defending the case before the Commission

• Filing of Appeal and Complaint
• Penalty under the Act
• Claim for Compensation

Disclosure related to some specific categories

• Medical Cases
• Examination
• Banks and other Financial Institutions
• Income Tax
• Service Matters
• ACR/APAR
• Vigilance Cases