Application filed under RTI is valid only if it is accompanied by the application fee
31 May, 2013Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) seeking information about laptop ‘Akash’ Project and the matters related there-with. The Public Information Officer (PIO) provided point wise information to the appellant. The appellant claimed that the PIO had not responded within the prescribed time frame and filed the second appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC).
Proceedings
During the hearing before the Central Information Commission (CIC), the respondent submitted that the RTI application was not accompanied by the requisite fee and only when the fee was deposited by the appellant the application was duly responded to and that there has been no delay.
View of CIC
The Commission observed that a citizen acquires the legal right to seek information only if his RTI application is accompanied by the requisite fee and non-deposition of fee disentitles him from seeking information. The CIC rejected the appeal stating that the delay stands explained and the requisite information has already been supplied to the appellant.
Citation: Mr. Ajeet Kumar Singh v. Ministry of Human Resource Development in File No. CIC/RM/A/2012/000082/LS
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2013/CIC/1323
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