RTI Application Forms & Other Non-statutory Forms for Official use

 Article

RTI Application Forms & Other Non-statutory Forms for Official use 

Right to Information Act, 2005 provides that the appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act. But no form has been prescribed for filing RTI application by Central government, as yet, which is the appropriate government for the central government and the Union territories.  As such the applicants are free to file their requests on plain paper for seeking information from the organisations of the central government and the Union territories. The application can be filed in English or Hindi or in the local language. 

Status of Forms in some of the State Governments: The following state governments have prescribed forms for filing applications under the rules framed by them, which are available on their websites: 

Ø  Arunachal Pradesh; http://arunhorticulture.nic.in/rti/ap-rti-rules2005.pdf

Ø  Daman & Diu; https://www.daman.nic.in/rti/7.pdf

Ø  Haryana; http://hsamb.org.in/sites/default/files/documents/rti.pdf

Ø  Himachal Pradesh; https://himachal.nic.in/WriteReadData/ar/pdfs/26.pdf

Ø  Kerala; http://rti.img.kerala.gov.in/RTI/elearn/rtiActRules.jsp

Ø  Maharashtra; https://onlinerti.com/rti-act/Maharashtra.pdf

Ø  Orissa; http://orissasoochanacommission.nic.in/Odisha%20Information%20Rule-2005.pdf

Ø  Tripura; https://agartalacity.tripura.gov.in/sites/default/files/RTI_2008_0.pdf

Ø  Sikkim

Note: Latest amendments done, if any, may be found from their respective websites.

 

Decision of Information Commission: With regard to prescription of forms the Central Information Commission has delivered the following decisions: 

Prescription of form: No Department is proscribed from designing an application form that facilitates identification and therefore ease of access to information sought… It is incumbent upon any public authority prescribing a format that it remains simple and comprehensible as well as accessible to common folk. 

Hand written applications: If the refusal to receive the application is only because it is handwritten as alleged, the  refusal  cannot  be  said  to  have  been  with reasonable  cause  as  required  u/s  20  (1)&  (2).

 

Form for first Appeal: Application forms for filing first appeal within the department have been devised by some of the states which are available on the concerned states’ websites. 

Forms prescribed by Courts etc.: Various High Courts & Supreme Court of India have formulated their respective RTI Rules. Some of them have prescribed Forms too. As such the latest status may be seen from their respective websites and Forms may be down loaded for meeting the requirements. Some web addresses are as under: 

Rajasthan High Court; https://ric.rajasthan.gov.in/includes/rti-rules-2006.pdf

Delhi High Court; https://delhihighcourt.nic.in/writereaddata/upload/RTIRules/126420132361d6b93239ca2.PDF

Allahabad High Court; http://www.allahabadhighcourt.in/rti/

Madras High Court; http://www.hcmadras.tn.nic.in/hcrules.html

Gujrat High Court; https://gujarathighcourt.nic.in/hccms/sites/default/files/rti_files/RTI_FORMS_2005.pdf

Bombay High Court; https://bombayhighcourt.nic.in/rtirules.php

Andhra Pradesh High Court; https://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/programs/ai/rti/india/states/ap/ap_high_court_rti_rules_2005.pdf

Gauhati High Court; https://ghconline.gov.in/index.php/rti/

Kerala High Court; https://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/programs/ai/rti/india/states/kerala/kerala_high_court_rti_rules_2006.pdf

Calcutta High Court; https://www.latestlaws.com/bare-acts/state-acts-rules/west-bengal-state-laws/calcutta-high-court-right-to-information-rules-2006/

Supreme Court; https://main.sci.gov.in/right-information-act

 

Forms for official use: The Government of NCT of Delhi has devised some templates for handling RTI requests such as: 

Ø  For submission of application (Non statutory)

Ø  For forwarding application to Public Authority by APIO

Ø  For deposit for further fee

Ø  For transfer of application to other Public Authority

Ø  For supply of information

Ø  For rejecting an application

Ø  For filing appeal (Non statutory) 

These are available on Delhi Government’s website http://delhigovt.nic.in/rti/default.asp   

The other organisations can also take advantage of the templates devised by the government of Delhi for various purposes such as asking the applicants to deposit further fee; transferring the application to other public authority; forwarding the application appeal by Assistant Public Information Officer; for sending replies and rejecting applications, sending replies to the applicants etc.

 


FAQs

Q.1.     Is it necessary to file application in prescribed Form?

Ans.1. In case statutory Form has been prescribed then the Form should be used.

Q.2.     Is it necessary to give proof of being Indian?

Ans.2. Some public authorities are asking for it in pursuance of some court decisions.



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