Mar 11, 2022

5 things you didn’t know about your Right to Information

The Central Information Commission has asked the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to explain why it did not respond satisfactorily to a Right to Information (RTI) application related to the Aarogya Setu app. The Ministry has now said that it is taking steps to comply with the Commission’s orders.

  1. Which law gives citizens the right to information?

The Right to Information Act, 2005 sets out the right to information for citizens to access information under the control of public authorities. The Act’s aim is to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.

  1. What is a ‘public authority’?

Under Section 2(h) of the Act, a ‘public authority’ means any authority established by: 

(a) the Constitution; 

(b) law made by Parliament; 

(c) law made by State Legislature; 

(d) notification/order issued by the government. 

This includes any government body, or a body that is under government control. It also covers bodies that get most of their funding from the government (including non-government organisations).

  1. What type of information can you get under RTI?

Under the 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, electronic data material and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority.

  1. What information is exempted under RTI?

A public authority can lawfully refuse your RTI request if you ask for:

  • Information that damages the security or economic interests of the Indian government
  • Information that damages India’s relation with a foreign country
  • Information that a Court has banned from being published
  • Information that results in a breach of privilege of the Parliament or State legislature
  • Confidential information that is received from a foreign government
  • Information that can endanger the life or physical safety of a person
  • Information which will obstruct a criminal investigation or arrest of offenders etc.
  1. Making an RTI request

If you want to obtain any information under this Act, you have to make an RTI application specifying the details of the information that you want to obtain. The application has to be made to the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority. It can also be made to the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public Information Officer.

Your application can be made in writing or through electronic means, and it can be in English, Hindi or in the official language of the area in which the application is being made. It has to be accompanied by the specified fee.

Related Weekly Posts

February 24 2022

5 Rights that are part of Your Right to Life

The Delhi High Court has confirmed that every individual has a right to access to drinking water of a quantity and quality equal to their basic needs. The Court held that it is a settled legal position that right to access to drinking water is fundamental to life, and the Government has a duty under […]
Read More >

February 21 2022

5 things you didn’t know about the Rights of Transgender People

The Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) has introduced ‘transgender’ as a gender category option in the application form for the State civil and allied services examination. The APSC is probably the first state commission to introduce this option, and around 42 applications have already been received under this option. Which law protect the rights of […]
Read More >

March 11 2022

5 things you didn’t know about the Rights of the Dead

The family of the Hathras gang-rape victim has claimed that the police forcibly cremated her body in the middle of the night, without respecting the family’s wishes. The 19-year-old Dalit woman died in a Delhi hospital on Tuesday, a fortnight after she was gang-raped in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. 1.The right to dignity The fundamental right […]
Read More >