DMPQ- What are the Salient Features of Right To Information Act 2005

  • Replaced Freedom of Information Act 2002.
  • Jammu and Kashmir has separate Right To Information Act – RTI 2009.
  • RTI relaxes restrictions placed by Official Secrets Act 1923.
  • 3 Levels – Public Information Officer, First Appellate Authority, Central Information Commission(CIC).
  • Time period for Public Information Officer : Expeditiously or within 30 daysfrom the date of receipt by public authority.
  • Maximum time gap for 1st appeal : 30 days since limit of supply of information is expired.
  • Time period for Appellate Authority : Within 30 daysor in exceptional cases 45 days from the date of receipt by public authority.
  • Maximum time gap for 2nd appeal : 90 days since limit of supply of information is expired.
  • RTI act also asks for computerization and proactively publish information.
  • Bodies applicable under RTI : Constitutional bodies at center and state ( Legislature, Executive, Judiciary), bodies/NGOs owned/financed by government, privatized public utility companies.
  • Bodies excluded under RTI : Central Intelligence and Security Agencies, agencies of state specified through notification. The exclusion is not absolute.

 

  • The Chief Information Commissioner shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office and shall not be eligible for reappointment.
  • 31 sections and 6 chapters in the act.
  • Section 8 deals with information exempted under the purview of this act