Apply for Birth/Death certificate through RTI

Birth/Death Certificates Can Be Applied Under RTI Act . Right to information Application Not To Be Rejected Only Because Alternative Procedure Is Available Under Another Statute said Punjab & Haryana HC

Now you can apply for Birth and Death certificates and other documents through RTI.  The Punjab and Haryana High court recently allowed a plea of a man who had applied death certificate of his mother through RTI.

Justice Augustine George Masih held that in case of an application preferred under the Right to Information Act where alternative procedure and conditions are prescribed under any other statute/law, the said application cannot be rejected and/or info.

Before the high court, Shakti Singh had challenged the order of State Information Commission that held that he is not entitled to information under the RTI Act and he should, in the light of the provisions of Section 17 of the Registration of Births .

The court observed: “There being no inconsistency under the RTI Act and the provisions of the other statute/law, the option and prerogative is with the citizen to select and choose to exercise his right under such Act/law or the RTI Act. In case the .

Setting aside the commission’s order, the court said: "The Commission has rejected the claim of the petitioner under the RTI Act proceeding upon the wrong assumption that the 6 of 7 Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, being a legislation and and statutory in nature, is not overridden by the RTI Act. It may be added here that the information under the RTI Act can only be denied if the same is exempted from disclosure of information under the provisions of RTI Act itself such as Sections 8 , 9 and 11 thereof "

Source : livelaw