The J & K HC reduces the application fee under RTI
6 Mar, 2012
A Division Bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, comprising Justice JP Singh and Justice Muhammad Yaqoob Mir, has reduced the fee charged by the state government on application and copies of information under Right to Information (RTI) Act. On a Public Interest Litigation.the Bench directed in its interim order that “Pending respondent’s response to the petition, fee charged under Rule 4 shall be Rs 10, under Rule 5 (a) Rs 2 for each page in A-4 or A-3 size paper and Rs 10 for each page in legal size paper created or copied and under Rule 6 Rs 40 diskette or floppy and Rs 50 for CD.” The Bench observed that prima-facie fixation of fee in terms of Rule 4, 5 and 6 appears arbitrary as the fee fixed for the purpose in rest of the country is so far less than that which is prescribed in J&K RTI Rules 2010. It was further directed that this order of the HC shall be in force till next date of hearing.