Skip to main content

Guide to draft a RTI

Drafting a good RTI application can be as easy as writing a simple leave letter. As long as the applicant knows the basics of the RTI Act 2005, drafting an application, requesting for information from any public authority, is little more than child’s play.

1. Pre-requisites:

Your full name and address have to mentioned in the application. If you so wish, you can also mention your telephone number and email id, although this is optional.

Have ready information about the Public Information Officer (PIO), his designation, address etc. In case you have problems locating your PIO/APIO you can address your RTI application to the PIO C/o Head of Department and send it to the concerned Public Authority with the requisite application fee. The Head of Department will have to forward your application to the concerned PIO.

Do not address your RTI application to the PIO by his name, just in case he gets transferred or a new PIO is designated in his place.

2. Preparing to draft a RTI application:

a) Carefully read Sections 2(f), 2(i) and 2(j) of the RTI Act, which define the “information”, “record” and “right to information”. Your request for information should contain as many words as possible form these three basic definitions.

b) Read the relevant RTI Rules (either for the Centre, State or Courts) which are applicable to the public authority from whom you seek information. These rules will indicate the quantum of fees, the mode of payment of fees, any special application format to be followed, etc. Follow these RTI rules to the letter “T”.

c) Remember to always use a white sheet of paper to write an application. Use of note sheet or the Court stamp paper should be avoided. Use of letter head for asking information can also be made. However avoid using your official designation or title and simple sign with your name. The RTI application can be either written by hand or typed. There is no compulsion of typing the content. The application should be easy to read and well legible.

3. Why do you need the information ?

First, ask yourself why you need the information ? Unless you have an answer to this question, there is no point in requesting for the information in the first place. What is the issue you are facing ? What information needs to be asked to help in getting the issue resolved ? A good indication is the preamble of the RTI Act which states that three main objectives of the Act are:

- Increase Transparency in the functioning of the Government
- Hold the Government accountable for its actions or inaction
- Reduce corruption

If your application seeks information which covers these objectives, then there is little chance of it being rejected.

4. What will you do with the “information”, once you get it ?

Now that you know why you need the information, you need to also decide what will you do with the information, once you get it. Are you going to get it published in the media, will you use it in a court case, is it for furthering your case in your office, is it to get some wrong corrected ? The answers to these questions will help you decide what exact information to ask for as well as in what form to request the information. For example, if you want to use the documents obtained under RTI in a court case, it is advisable to ask for “certified copies”. If you want to give media coverage to a particular issue, then you must ask for information on a current issue of larger public interest.

5. Ask for only “information” !

Try to draft an RTI application that DOES NOT disclose the overall nature of the problem in your mind. It MUST NOT give a glimpse of what you intend to do with the requested information e.g. register police complaints, approach investigating agencies, file a PIL etc. Also, your RTI application MUST NOT indicate how badly you want the information, and therefore, please don’t mention anything such as “I am a senior citizen dependent on my pension cheques, and I have been pushed from pillar-to-post in search

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Cyber Security Need of the hour: Group Discussion Topic for Airforce Phase2

Cyber security : Need of the Hour It is the time when whole world is suffering from covid crisis.  Currently government websites are being hacked, Banks also reported breach of confidential data from their servers,  the energy and nuclear power plants control systems are infected with virus Trojan and social media accounts of  celebrities being hacked. People are receiving text messages asking amount or money has been deducted from their bank accounts. The whole Nation is in a state of confusion.  It is clear that our country has become a victim of cyber attack and there has been 260% increase in cyber attacks since lockdown induced due to covid-19 pandemic. Due to increasing network and interconnectivity cyber attacks have become more common.   Cyber attackers uses different methods for attacks.  First , There are many financially motivated organised crime groups uses cyberspace as Warfare to hack business, Networks and demand mo...

How To Prevent Osteoarthritis l Health Guide l

How to prevent Osteoarthritis In general,  arthritis  means problems with the joints. A joint is a place in the body where 2 bones meet. Arthritis may also affect other body tissue near the joints including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. And, in some forms of arthritis, the whole body is involved. Osteoarthritis (OA) was once consider a disorder in which joints simply wore out - the unavoidable result of a long and active life. But research has shown that OA is a complex process with many causes. Here is what doctors recommend to reduce the risk of OA or delay its onset Maintain your ideal body weight (IBM) Excess weight is one of biggest risk factors for OA. It puts stress on your joints, especially your hips, knees, ankles and feet. And, extra fat actually causes changes in the cartilage cells. If you are overweight, talk with your health care provider about safe ways to lose weight. Control Blood Sugar Diabetes, which affects the body's ability to regulate...

Army GD Model Paper 1 with Solutions by Garhwal Sir

1. पास्कल किसकी इकाई है दाब की  2. चलती हुई बस जब अचानक ब्रेक लgती है तो उसमें बैठे हुए यात्री आगे की दिशा में गिरते हैं किसको किसके द्वारा समझाया जा सकता है  न्यूटन का पहला नियम  3. दूध से क्रीम निकालने में कौन सा बल लगता है  उत्तर अपकेंद्रीय बल  4. ध्वनि की चाल अधिकतम किसमें होती है  उत्तर निर्वात में  5. दाढ़ी बनाने के लिए काम में लेते हैं  अवतल दर्पण  6. इलेक्ट्रॉन की खोज किसने की थी  उत्तर जे जे थॉमसन ने  7.भविष्य का ईंधन किसे कहा जाता है  उत्तर  हाइड्रोजन को  8.धोने का सोडा किस का प्रचलित नाम है  उत्तर सोडियम कार्बोनेट  9.सोडियम बाई कार्बोनेट का सामान्य नाम क्या है  उत्तर beकिंग सोडा  10. पोटेशियम नाइट्रेट का प्रयोग किसके उत्पादन में होता है  उत्तर Uravark के उत्पादन में  11.विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस किस दिन मनाया जाता है  उत्तर है 6 जून को  12. विटामिन ए को किस नाम से जाना जाता है  रेटिनोल  13.yeast ek क्या है  कवक है