All RTI applications and replies to be pro-actively disclosed by the ministries and departments
22 Oct, 2014
The government of India has directed all the ministries and departments to suo motu display all the RTI applications received by it and the replies thereof, on their respective websites with effect from October 31, 2014.
Vide Office Memorandum No 1/1/2013 dated 21.10.2014, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has informed that a new feature was added to the CPIO / FAA module on the “RTI online” portal on a pilot basis. This feature provides an option to them to upload the RTI application and replies on the website of the government of India. Now, this feature has been extended to the other ministries and departments. They can make use of the feature through a URL provided by NIC / DoPT. The concerned ministry / department would have to write a programme to consume the service for which they can contact the NIC scientist at 011- 23040281. The OM reads “The concerned ministry/department needs to consume this web service (by writing a program) to display the desired contest on its respective website……….. An immediate action is requested so that the facility to upload the reply to RTI application and first appeal respectively on the website of the respective ministry/department may be started with effect from October 31, 2014.”
The DoPT instructions say that personal information relating to an individual need not be uploaded. It reads “It may be noted that RTI applications and appeals received and their responses relating to the personal information of an individual may not be disclosed if they do not serve any public interest."
The initiative said to be a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Digital India" plan. The PMO recently disclosed the staff strength and the number of people on PM Modi's personal staff and also the assets of the BJP ministers. The advantage of the order would be that a large amount of data would be available online which would aid in the transparent working of the system. As many applicants may find the information beforehand, there would be no need to file an RTI application. Thus, repeated applications on the same subject can be avoided.