Central Government asks states, courts to adopt Central RTI rules
mutatis mutandis in order to bring uniformity in the implementation of RTI Act through out the country
On 10th July, 2015, the Govt.
of India has written a letter to all
the States, High Courts and Supreme Court
to adopt Central RTI rules, 2012 mutatis mutandis, so that there might be
uniformity, as far as possible, in the matter of implementation of the Act
throughout the country. Similar letter was also sent by Central Govt. to all
the States on 26.4.2011 to follow Central Rules while framing state RTI Rules
and prescribe fee in consonance with the fees prescribed by Govt. of India.
of India has written a letter to all
the States, High Courts and Supreme Court
to adopt Central RTI rules, 2012 mutatis mutandis, so that there might be
uniformity, as far as possible, in the matter of implementation of the Act
throughout the country. Similar letter was also sent by Central Govt. to all
the States on 26.4.2011 to follow Central Rules while framing state RTI Rules
and prescribe fee in consonance with the fees prescribed by Govt. of India.
It deserves to be mentioned here that the Rules
framed by the State
Governments does not have uniformity each other and many states
charge exorbitant fees which are
not all reasonable. Different type of fees charged by
different states has created a
lot of problem for the Citizens in their
pursuit
of exercising their Rights under
RTI Act.
framed by the State
Governments does not have uniformity each other and many states
charge exorbitant fees which are
not all reasonable. Different type of fees charged by
different states has created a
lot of problem for the Citizens in their
pursuit
of exercising their Rights under
RTI Act.
For example, Odisha
has made appeal fee of Rs. 20/-
and Rs. 25/- for first appeal and second
appeal respectively going against the provision of the RTI Act. The Central Govt. and many state Govt. has not made
any provision of appeal fee for first appeal and second appeal complying
the RTI Act.
has made appeal fee of Rs. 20/-
and Rs. 25/- for first appeal and second
appeal respectively going against the provision of the RTI Act. The Central Govt. and many state Govt. has not made
any provision of appeal fee for first appeal and second appeal complying
the RTI Act.
Similarly, as
per section 7(5) of the RTI Act, a BPL
Applicant need not pay any kind of fee under
RTI Act. The Central Govt. and all the State Govt. do not charge any kind of fee from the BPL people. But the Govt. of Odisha which projects itself as champion of
cause of the poor uses to
collect fee for information from BPL people. The illegal
collection of fee for information from the BPL people has
dissuaded the BPL people of Odisha to exercise their right under RTI Act.
per section 7(5) of the RTI Act, a BPL
Applicant need not pay any kind of fee under
RTI Act. The Central Govt. and all the State Govt. do not charge any kind of fee from the BPL people. But the Govt. of Odisha which projects itself as champion of
cause of the poor uses to
collect fee for information from BPL people. The illegal
collection of fee for information from the BPL people has
dissuaded the BPL people of Odisha to exercise their right under RTI Act.
It is also
fact that many
courts are also charging a whopping Rs 500 as application fee.
fact that many
courts are also charging a whopping Rs 500 as application fee.
Pradip Pradhan,RTI Activist Odisha
M-9937843482
Date- 30.07.2015
