How to use RTI

This post is for giving information and for educating the vital role of RTI.

Many people know about it and fails to use it so, I came with some information about it with my practical experience...

In democracy people are Masters so, we have a right to get information. Therefore, a system has been evolved in the name of  RTI, an act which came effective on 13th October 2005.

RTI stands for Right to Information. Right to Information is a part of fundamental rights under article(1) of the constitution. Article 19(1) says that every citizen has the freedom to speech and expression.
In 1976, the supreme court said in the case of Raj Narain vs The State of UP, that people cannot speak unless they know. Therefore, RTI is embedded in article 19. In the same case-Supreme court says people are masters of democracy. Therefore, masters have Right to know.Every citizen pays taxes in the form of sales tax, excise duty.So, every citizen has right to know it.

An Act to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure

access to information under the control of public authorities, in order to promote transparency

and accountability in the working of every public authority, the constitution of a Central

Information Commission and State Information Commissions and for matters connected thereof.

• Constitution of India has established democratic republic
• Democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of information which are vital to its functioning.
• Government and institutions are accountable.
• In certain cases where it is case-sensitive it is not available for ex: Issues relating Integrity, security, personal security.......
• For online RTI submit your queries at      https://rtionline.gov.in/ 

What rights are available under RTI Act 2005?

1. Right to Information Act 2005 empowers every citizen to Ask any questions from the Government or seek any information.

3. Take copies of any government documents.

4. Inspect any government documents.

5. Inspect any Government works.

6. Take samples of materials of any Government work.

What institutions covered  under RTI?

The Central RTI Act extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. All

bodies, which are constituted under the Constitution or under any law or under any Government

notification or all bodies, including NGOs.

All private bodies, which are owned, controlled or substantially financed by the Government.

How to use RTI offline:

• Demand Draft.

• Indian Postal Order.

• Money orders (only in some states).

• Affixing Court fee Stamp (only in some states).

• Banker’s cheque.

• Some state governments have prescribed some head of the account. You are required to deposit fee in that account. For that, you can either go to any branch of SBI and deposit cash in that account and attach deposit receipt with your RTI application. Or you can also send a postal order or a DD drawn in favour of that account along with your RTI application.

• Just based on the prescribed amount normally,  not more than 20 rupees (amount changes b/w states).
• Just write a letter to the informational officer of the concerned department along with your contact details.
• Which information you need should be written in the letter. Type of the document you need should be mentioned (normal paper form/electronic form).
• You will receive information related to it within 30 days(time changes b/w states).
• If it is rejected you will be informed why it is rejected.

Transparency:

• You may know about mobile phones nowadays even agricultural labour can have it. What about it before 20 years? 
•  In all over India, only 5.70 lakh connections are available before 20 years. Now India is going to cross 1 billion markets. how this is possible? 
• Transparency is encouraged so, we can easily have it in our hand. Even corruption came down in communication sectors. call costs decrease everything is due to transparency.
• We should encourage transparency in every department.

Try to educate your friends neighbours about our Constitutional Rights.

Source :

              http://righttoinformation.gov.in/