RTI as a tool for
journaHst

Information at your ?ngertips

What and how’s of RTI
➔ The Act gives power to citizens to demand
access for information from any government
department, covering legislature, executive
and judiciary.
➔ Information that you can seek under RTI
could be documents, records, emails,
memos, press releases, minutes of meetings,
reports, contracts or any data material.

 How to apply?
➔ Very simple. All you have to do is to submit an RTI
application through writing or online.
➔ The application can be in English, Hindi or in the regional
language.
➔ You have to address the application to the Public
Information Officer of that particular department/agency.
➔ Info about PIO is available in all departmental websites.
➔ PIO will transfer the application to the officer concerned.

 How to apply?
➔ You don’t have to give reasons for asking the information.
➔ RTI fee is minimum - Rs 10.
➔ Attach an Indian Postal Order (IPO) or DD of Rs 10 with the
application or pay the cash in any government treasury and
get the challan.
➔ If you have asked for the photocopy of the documents, you
will have to pay more (Rs 2 per page) or more for CDs/DVDs
which can be paid in advance or later.

 RTI format
➔ No fixed format. Mention the to and from address
clearly.
➔ Request for specific information.
➔ Do NOT ask questions (What/Why/How), explanations
and don’t make allegations.
➔ Be clear about the document that you require. You are
unlikely to get the information, if the question is open
ended.
➔ Ask the questions in bullet points or numbers.

 Format
➔ To
➔ Subject matter
in a line
➔ Declare that
you are a
citizen of India
➔ Details of info
you seek, point
by point
➔ Payment of fee

 Example 1 - BTP
Provide the following
information:
1.List of locations of existing
official speed humps in the
above four roads.
2.Copies of recommendation
that BTP has received to put
speed breakers in the above
mentioned roads.
3.Copies of request from
BBMP to BTP recommending
speed breakers.

4. Details of any request
from citizens to put up speed
breakers on above mentioned
roads.
5. Guidelines for construction
of speed breakers that is to
be followed with respect to
height, width of the hump.
6. If any caution board on the
side, or road or median put
up indicating the hump.

 Example 2
Please provide me with the following
information under RTI regarding the
proposed
Waste to Energy plant at OkhlaTimarpur.
1. Is the project a Public Private
Partnership? If yes, then what is the
public sector stake in it?
2. List of all the parties involved in
the project.
3. A copy of the latest Detailed
Project Report for the project.
4. A copy of the latest Concession
Agreement on the project between
the MDC and the project proponent.

5. A copy of the land lease
documents for the land
allotted to the TWMCPL for
setting up the waste
processing plant.
6. Where does the project
proponent propose to sell
the electricity generated
from the project?
7. Please provide a copy of
the Power Purchase
Agreement between the
project proponent and the
buyer of the electricity from
the plant.

 RTI reply
➔ As per the Act, applicant should get the reply from the
authority within 30 days of the PIO receiving the
application.
➔ If you don’t get a response, within at 30 days, you can file
an appeal with first appellate authority or directly file a
complaint with the State Information Commission.
➔ First appellate authority will hear you and the PIO and pass
a reasonable order within 30-45 days.

 RTI reply samples
Reply from the Dept
of Collegiate
Education to a
query on the
number of
registered coaching
centres under the
Dept in Bengaluru.

 Curious case of burnt
document
RTI reply from BMTF said
copy of the report on
misappropriation in Solid
Waste Management
contracts in BBMP, is
burnt in a fire accident.

 Filing RTI online
➔ Filing RTI has been made easy.
➔ https://rtionline.gov.in/
➔ This website allows citizens for online application of RTI to
get information from ministries and departments of Central
govt.
➔ State govt has not yet initiated online RTI. However,
applicant can check the status online by visiting KIC
website.
➔ There is also a private online RTI processing website
http://onlinerti.com/team

 Filing RTI online
➔ The team helps people to get the information
from any govt department in the country, by
charging a fee of Rs 99.
➔ The firm has a template system. All you have
to do is, give your basic details, RTI details
and summary. They make sure that your
query reaches the correct dept and you get
the response in time.

 Provision to inspect/take notes
➔ Section 2 (j) i and ii of the RTI Act gives
provision to citizens to get information
through inspection of work, documents and
records and even to take notes, extracts.
➔ This is a lesser known provision which often
the officers may not be aware.

 ENDS