About RTI Act 2005

The basic objective of the Right to Information Act is to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Public Authorities, contain corruption, and make our democracy work for the people in real sense.

Key Sections of the Act:

Section- 2 (h): “Public Authority” means any authority or body or institution of self government established or constituted:

• By or under the Constitution,
• By any other law made by Parliament;
• By any other law made by the State Legislature;
• By notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government

It also includes any:

• Body owned, controlled or substantially financed;
• Non-Government Organisation substantially financed directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government.

Section 4(2) of the RTI Act mandates every public authority to provide as much information suo- motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communications, including the Internet, so that the public need not resort to the use of RTI Act.

Section- 7 (1):Time limit for the supply of information

• In normal course, information to an applicant is to be supplied within 30 days from the receipt of application by the public authority.
• If information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it shall be supplied within 48 hours.

Section- 7 (8):Reason to rejection: Where a request has been rejected ,the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall communicate to the person making the request,

• The reasons for such rejection;
• The period within which an appeal against such rejection may be preferred; and
• The particulars of the Appellate Authority.

Section 8 (1) :Exemptions against furnishing information under RTI Act.

Section 8 (2) provides for disclosure of information exempted under Official Secrets Act, 1923 if larger public interest is served.

Section- 24 (1): Non applicable to Intelligence and Security agencies:

Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established by the Central Government or any information furnished by such organisations to that Government.