Posted by rtiact2005 on July 17, 2006
IPOs have been allowed by the Government of India as a mode of payment of
requisition fee under the Right to Information Act.
This is by the gazette notification of the Department of Personnel and
Training (DoPT) dated May 17, 2006.
visit
http://righttoinformation.gov.in/
and click on Notification- Regulation of Fee & Cost
Rules<http://righttoinformation.gov.in/Circulars/Notification_RegulationOfFeeAndCost_07Jun2006.pdf>
This might have escaped the attention of most of us, but thanks to the blog
by mr v m kumaraswamy we know about it now
http://right2information.wordpress.com/2006/07/17/rsp-officer-makes-mockery-of-right-to-information-act/
“…The act also prescribes a fee of Rs 10 as application money for getting
information. According to Gazette notification of Sep 16, 2005 for providing
the information under sub-section (1) of section 7, the fee shall be charged
by way of cash against proper money receipt or by demand draft or bankers
cheque payable to the account officer of the public authority and as per the
gazette notification of May 17, 2006 IPO is also permissible… ”
As you are aware, the beginning was made by Karnataka government, thanks to
the efforts of our colleagues there. Now we have to get this included in the
rules of all states.
Posted in RTI Improvements | 1 Comment »
Posted by rtiact2005 on July 13, 2006
| CSIR prepares scientists to develop mindset for implementing RTI Act |
For the purpose of providing information, all public authorities have to appoint a PIO, Assistant PIO and Appelate Authority from within their own ranks. The RTI has been instituted to “promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority”.
The training programme, conducted by SC Sen of the Department of Personnel, taught the basics of the RTI Act and sought to remove confusion about the nitty gritty’s. For instance, the fee for applying for information is Rs 10 to be submitted by demand draft. But a DD for Rs 10 involves an extra cost of Rs 25 as commission. To solve this problem, the fee can be submitted as cash or postal order. Said the national coordinator of the training programme, Janardhan Swarup, “All CSIR labs have appointed PIO’s, APIO’s and Appelate Authorities.”
But a lot of issues still remain. Prominent among them is whether public authorities, used as they are to not revealing information, can adjust to the transparency and openness of the RTI Act. Rakesh Tuli, Director of NBRI, feels that they can and must adjust. “The mindset will change. All it requires is some time. In a year’s time the system will be much smoother,” he opined.
What is the kind of information that can be accessed. The Act specifies that “nothing contained in the Act will apply to intelligence and security organisations.” Adds RBS Rathor, PIO of NBRI, “Information pertaining to intellectual property is also exempted.” Which means that NBRI’s patented information will be off limits. Says KC Khulbe, Assistant PIO at ITRC, “It is a very important act, which will empower citizens and make the system transparent.”
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=192424
Posted in RTI Improvements | 2 Comments »
