CIC - DoPT should put the information of public interest on its website
30 Nov, 2012Background
The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) seeking information in respect of the Task Force constituted by the Central Government for implementation of the provisions of section 4 of the RTI Act including the copies of the minutes of the Task Force meetings, its recommendations and the consequent action taken on those recommendations. The Public Information Officer (PIO) demanded Rs. 460/- towards the photocopying charges at the rate of Rs. 2/- per page for providing 230 pages of information. The appellant preferred an appeal in which he requested the First Appellate Authority (FAA) to pass an order to provide the information as per the provisions contained in section 7(3) of the RTI Act.
Proceeding
During the hearing before the Central Information Commission (CIC), the appellant submitted that the PIO should provide detailed calculation of the cost of providing the information item wise and that the DoPT should upload this information in the department’s website.
View of CIC
The Commission did not agree with the demand of the appellant and held that the PIO had responded within the stipulated period and had indicated very clearly the total number of pages of information to be disclosed and the photocopying charges as prescribed. The Commission rejected the appeal stating that if the appellant is interested, he can send the photocopying charges and get the records. The CIC also stated that if the DoPT can upload the information in its website it would be a welcome gesture as the information is of great public interest.
Citation: Mr. Bhagwati Prasad Garg v. Department of Personnel and Training in File No.CIC/SM/A/2012/000409
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2012/CIC/835
Click here to view original RTI order of Court / Information Commission