CIC: while returning any RTI application for the want of appropriate application fee, the PIO should clearly advise the right manner in which the fee should be deposited and not merely refer to the existing rules which many applicants may not be aware of
24 Aug, 2013Order
1. The Appellant had requested for various details about the modern Bengali songs first recorded by various artists/ singers for the Doordarshan including the details of the singers and the amount of remuneration paid to them. The CPIO had, however, returned his RTI application on the ground that the application fee had not been properly paid. Following this, the Appellant had made a complaint to the CIC.
2. We understand that, in the meanwhile, he has also deposited the application fee in the proper manner. Therefore, we now direct the CPIO to write to him within 10 working days of receiving this order and provide whatever information is available in material form regarding his queries, free of charge.
3. We would also like to advise the CPIO that while returning any such application in future for want of appropriate application fee, he should also advise the Appellant clearly about the right manner in which the fee should be deposited and not merely refer to the existing rules which many information seekers may not be particularly aware of.
(Satyananda Mishra)
Chief Information Commissioner
Citation: Sh. Samar Kumar Das v. Prasar Bharati, Kolkata in File No.CIC/SM/C/2013/000148