DoPT directs pro-active disclosure of Tours of ministers and officials

The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) has advised all the Government Department and Ministries to proactively disclose the details of foreign and domestic official tours undertaken by Minister(s) and officials of the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India and above and Heads of Departments, since 1st January, 2012. The DoPT advised that such disclosures may be updated once every quarter starting from 1st July, 2012. It has been asked vide Office Memorandum (OM) F. No. 1/ 8/2012-IR dated 11.09.2012 that the information to be disclosed proactively may contain nature of the official tour, places visited, the period, number of people included in the official delegation and total cost of such travel undertaken.

The OM says that exemptions under Section 8 of the RTI Act, 2005 may be taken in view while disclosing the information. Further, the advisory would not apply to security and intelligence organisations under the second schedule of the RTI Act, 2005 and CVOs of public authorities. The OM makes a reference to Section 4 (2) of the RTI Act, 2005 requires every public authority to take steps in accordance with the requirements of clause (b) of sub-section (1) to provide as much information suo motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communications, including internet, so that the public have minimum resort to use the Act to obtain information. It has been noticed that public authorities are receiving RTI applications frequently asking for details of the official tours undertaken by Ministers and other officials of the Ministries/Departments concerned.

Is the DoPT going to issue more advisories?

F. No. 1/ 8/2012-IR

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi

Dated:llth September, 2012

Office Memorandum

Sub: Suo motu disclosure on official tours of Ministers and other officials.

Sub-Section (2) of Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005 requires every public authority to take steps in accordance with the requirements of clause (b) of sub-section (1) to provide as much information suo motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communications, including internet, so that the public have minimum resort to use the Act to obtain information.

2. It has been brought to the notice of this Department that public authorities are receiving RTI applications frequently asking for details of the official tours undertaken by Ministers and other officials of the Ministries/Departments concerned. In compliance with the provisions of Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005, it is advised that Public Authorities may proactively disclose the details of foreign and domestic official tours undertaken by Minister(s) and officials of the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India and above and Heads of Departments, since 1st January, 2012. The disclosures may be updated once every quarter starting from 1st July, 2012.

3. Information to be disclosed proactively may contain nature of the official tour, places visited, the period, number of people included in the official delegation and total cost of such travel undertaken. Exemptions under Section 8 of the RTI Act, 2005 may be taken in view while disclosing the information. These advisory would not apply to security and intelligence organisations under the second schedule of the RTI Act, 2005 and CVOs of public authorities.

4. Contents of this OM may be brought to the notice of all concerned.

(Sandeep Jain)

Deputy ecretary

Tele: 23092755

1. All the Ministries / Departments of the Government of India

2. Union Public Service Commission/Lok Sabha Sectt./Rajya Sabha Secretariat/Cabinet Secretariat/ Central Vigilance Commission/ President's Secretariat/ Vice-President's Secretariat/ Prime Minister's Office/ Planning Commission/Election Commission.

3. Central Information Commission.

4. Staff Selection Commission, CGO Complex, New Delhi

5. Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India, 10, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi.

6. All officers/Desks/Sections, of DOP&T, Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare and Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.

Copy to: Chief Secretaries of all the States/UTs.