Complaint to State Information Commission (SIC) under 18 (1) of the RTI Act 2005 for Andaman Nicobar state
RTI Act confers right to access to information held by a Public Authority on all Citizens. The Act also prescribes remedy, when such a right is denied to a citizen. When an applicant do not receive a decision on his RTI Request within 30 days or is aggrieved by the decision, applicant can prefer an Appeal under Section-19(1) and further appeal under section-19(3) before the Information Commission within time limit. In such an appeal, the applicant can seek relief to supply information by PIO.
When an applicant is denied access to information by various reasons specified in Section-18(1), as enumerated below, Applicant can file Complaint directly before the Information Commission.
Every Act or Law contains clause for protection of its provisions
against non-compliance, and so does RTI Act, 2005. Section 18 of
the RTI Act, 2005 assigns duty and power to the Andaman Nicobar State Information Commission
(hereinafter referred as CIC or SIC-Andaman Nicobar), as the case may be, to protect the RTI Act against non-compliance by the Public Authority. We can say, CIC or SIC-Andaman Nicobar acts as Guardian of the RTI Act. In this article, I will explain when to file and how to file complaint under RTI Act.
Under the complaint proceedings, the Information Commission cannot direct PIO to supply information, but can only conduct an inquiry and impose penalty on PIO or recommend disciplinary action against PIO, for the reasons as enumerated under Sec-20.
The RTI Act 2005, bestows, the Right to seek information from any public authority, to all the citizen of India.
If anyone is denied this right, or his/her application is rejected under this Act, or the public authorities have not appointed PIO (Public information Officer, that is required to be appointed in all government offices/departments, under this Act) or he/she is aggrieved by the decision of public authority under RTI Act, he ,may prefer to file a complaint against the decision, non-appointment of PIO and hence refusal of information.
Sometimes someone has filed a request for information and his application is accepted by the Public authority but no conclusive decision is arrived at within the stipulated time-frame of 30 (in case of PIO) and 35 (in case of request before APIO), the applicant may prefer to go for complaint under Section 18 (1) of the RTI Act 2005.
There may be a case where one’s application has been accepted but the PIO has asked for some unreasonable amount of fees for supplying information, in this case also a complaint is appropriate, to be filed.
Many times the PIOs refuse to provide information under RTI act citing irrelevant section of the RTI act, saying exemption clause, in this case, there maybe two scenarios, one is where full information comes under exemption Section 8, whilst in other scenario there may be a part of a record that can be made public without any harm, in this case partial disclosure is allowed, but generally Public authorities suppress information citing section 8 of the RTI Act, here a complaint will work on and partial disclosure may be allowed.
In case commission hears a complaint and if it finds that information was denied willfully by the Public information officer without any reasonable cause, the commission, be it SIC or CIC, may impose penalty on them under section 20 of the RTI Act.
There is no time-limit for filing a complaint. One may file a complaint immediately after PIO or Public Authority’s failure to comply with a requirement of the RTI Act, without filing a First Appeal or as and when he wish but it is advisable to file the complaint within a reasonable time.
Before explaining how to file complaint for andaman nicobar state under RTI Act, let me provide you grounds for complaint. You may file complaint under section 18 before SIC-andaman nicobar, as the case may be, in following circumstances:
(a)You have been unable to submit RTI Application to the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer (hereinafter referred as CPIO or SPIO), as the case may be, because of any of below reasons:
The, Central/State Information Commissioner Central/State Information Commission, (Place) Sub: Application for Complaint u/s 18 for non adherence of the provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005. PIO or the Department against whom the complaint is being made: Name (………..) Designation: (………) Department: (………..) Dear Sir, GROUNDS I had tried to file an RTI application with the above mentioned Department but failed because: 1. PIO has not been appointed in the department 2. PIO refused to accept my RTI application 3. No reply is received from PIO within time limit fixed by the act 4. I had sent the application by post but the department specifying the following reasons sent it back to me 5. PIO refused to accept the application fees 6. PIO/ staff misbehaved with me 7. Information has been wrongly and unjustifiably refused RELIEFS SOUGHT I humbly request you to pass orders to the said department to accept/file my RTI application and taking action against the PIO/Department head impose a monetary fine. Thanking you, Yours faithfully, Name: Address: Date:
RTI Act, 2005 does not provide any specific Format for RTI Application . You can write RTI Application in any Format. However, if you do not know how to write RTI Application just click on Apply now button and Fill the RTI Application form. We will file your RTI for Andaman Nicobar.
For your convenient, We are providing simple sample RTI Application format . Just draft your application as per format and attach IPO or DD as per requirement and send it to the concern PIO. If still you face difficulty in drafting RTI application then take our service of RTI . Just click on "Apply Now" button and Fill the RTI Application form. We will file your RTI for Andaman Nicobar.
Date: 18-Aug-2017 To, The Public Information Officer (Name of the Public Authority) (Address of the Public Authority) Sir / Madam: Sub: Request for Information under the Right to Information Act, 2005 [if applicable] Kindly, provide me the following information:…………. (Mention the information you want as specifically and clearly as possible and the period of time to which the information pertains) [if applicable] I request for receipt of the information in the following format(s) – true copy / print out / diskette / floppy / tape / video cassettes / certified copies of documents or records – in person / by post / by e-Mail. [if applicable] I would like to inspect the following works / documents / records / take notes / extracts….. (Mention clearly and specifically what is wanted for inspection). Kindly inform me the date and time for my visit. [if applicable] Kindly, provide me certified samples of material (Mention specifically and clearly the material). I request for receipt of the certified samples (Describe) ………... The details of fees paid by me are as follows (Specify)….….. /I belong to the ‘Below Poverty Line Category’ [if applicable, attach a photocopy of the proof] and I am not required to pay any fees. Sincerely, (Applicant’s signature/Thumb Impression) Applicant’s Name: Applicant’s Address: Applicant’s Phone Number/e-Mail Address (optional): Place: Date:
आरटीआई अधिनियम 2005, आरटीआई आवेदन के लिए कोई विशिष्ट प्रारूप नहीं है। आप आरटीआई आवेदन किसी भी प्रारूप में लिख सकते हैं। अगर आपको नहीं पता कि आरटीआई आवेदन कैसे लिखना है तो बस "Apply Now" बटन पर क्लिक करें और आरटीआई आवेदन पत्र भरें। हम आपके आरटीआई आवेदन फॉर्म तैयार करेंगे
सेवा में, जनसूचना अधिकारी क्षेत्रिय कार्यालय........................................................... 1) आवेदक का नाम:- 2) पत्राचार पताः- 3) मागीं गई सूचना की विवरण:- आपके कार्यालय के द्वारा किसी पासपोर्ट के आवेदन जमा कराने के बाद जितने दिन में पासपोर्ट बनाने का निधार्रित किया गया है उसकी जनसूचना की प्रमाणित प्रति जिस कानूनी की जिस धारा के अर्न्तगत मेरी फाईल न॰ GZB-Z160628-06 , आवेदन तिथि 19.06.2006, का पासपोर्ट न बनाया गया उसकी जनसूचना की प्रमाणित प्रति। जिस अधिकारी की लापरवाही के कारण मेरा पासपोर्ट आजतक नही बन पाया उस अधिकारी का नाम पद नाम और पत्राचार के पते की जनसूचना की प्रमाणित प्रति उस अधिकारी को विभाग द्वारा मिलने वाले अनुशानिक व कानूनी दण्ड की जनसूचना की प्रमाणित प्रति। 4) अवधि जिससे सूचना सम्बन्धित है: 2006-2011 5) क्या सूचना व्यक्तिगत रूप से लेनी है: नही। 6) क्या सूचना डाक द्वारा मंगानी है: हां। 7) क्या डाक प्रभार अतिरिक्त फीस में शामिल होगें: नियमानुसार। 8) डाक की दशा में सामान्य डाक/रजिस्ट्रड /स्पीड पोस्ट: तीव्र डाक सेवा। जनसूचना पाने की फीस भारतीय पोस्ट आर्डर न॰ रूपये अनुरोधपत्र के साथ संलग्न है। दिनांकः स्थान आवेदक के हस्ताक्षर