TIc lasic oljcci of iIc FTI Aci is io cnowcr iIc ciiizcns, ronoic iransarcncy and accounialiliiy in iIc worling of iIc Covcrnncni and nalc our dcnocracy worl for iIc colc in rcal scnsc. TIc FigIi io Infornaiion Aci, 2005 cnowcrs ciiizcns io gci infornaiion fron any 'ullic auiIoriiy'. TIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr (PIO} of a ullic auiIoriiy lays a ivoial rolc in naling iIc rigIi of a ciiizcn io infornaiion a rcaliiy. TIc Aci casis sccific duiics on Iin and nalcs Iin liallc for cnaliy in casc of dcfauli. Ii is, iIcrcforc, csscniial for a PIO io siudy iIc Aci carcfully and undcrsiand iis rovisions corrccily. Following asccis sIould ariicularly lc lci in vicw wIilc dcaling wiiI iIc alicaiions undcr iIc Aci.
1) Wbat Is InIormatIon?
Infornaiion is any naicrial in any forn. Ii includcs rccords, docuncnis, ncnos, cnails, oinions, adviccs, rcss rclcascs, circulars, ordcrs, loglools, coniracis, rcoris, acrs, sanlcs, nodcls, daia naicrial Icld in any clccironic forn. Ii also includcs infornaiion rclaiing io any rivaic lody, wIicI can lc acccsscd ly iIc ullic auiIoriiy undcr any law for iIc iinc lcing in forcc.
2) RIgbt to InIormatIon under tbe Act
i. A ciiizcn Ias a rigIi io sccl sucI infornaiion fron a ullic auiIoriiy wIicI is Icld ly iIc ullic auiIoriiy or wIicI is Icld undcr iis conirol.
ii. TIis rigIi includcs inscciion of worl, docuncnis and rccords; ialing noics, ciracis or ccriificd coics of docuncnis or rccords; and ialing ccriificd sanlcs of naicrial Icld ly iIc ullic auiIoriiy or Icld undcr iIc conirol of iIc ullic auiIoriiy.
iii. TIc Aci givcs iIc ciiizcns a rigIi io infornaiion ai ar wiiI iIc Mcnlcrs of Parliancni and iIc Mcnlcrs of Siaic Lcgislaiurcs. According io iIc Aci, iIc infornaiion, wIicI cannoi lc dcnicd io iIc Parliancni or a Siaic Lcgislaiurc, sIall noi lc dcnicd io any crson.
iv. A ciiizcn Ias a rigIi io oliain an infornaiion in iIc forn of dislciics, floics, iacs, vidco cassciics or in any oiIcr clccironic nodc or iIrougI rini-ouis rovidcd sucI infornaiion is alrcady siorcd in a conuicr or in any oiIcr dcvicc fron wIicI iIc infornaiion nay lc iransfcrrcd io dislciics cic.
v. TIc Aci givcs iIc rigIi io infornaiion only io iIc ciiizcns of India. Ii docs noi nalc rovision for giving infornaiion io Cororaiions, Associaiions, Conanics cic., wIicI uc cgu cnttcs/csons, Iut not ctzcns.
vi. Howcvcr, if un ucuton s nudc I un cnocc o occ-Icuc o un Coouton, Assocuton, Conun, NGO ctc. ndcutng Is nunc und sucI cnocc/occ Icuc s u ctzcn o Indu; nonuton nu Ic sucd to In/Ic. In sucI cascs, ii would lc rcsuncd iIai a ciiizcn Ias sougIi infornaiion ai iIc addrcss of iIc Cororaiion cic.
vii. TIc infornaiion io iIc alicani sIould ordinarily lc rovidcd in iIc forn in wIicI ii is sougIi. Howcvcr, if iIc suly of infornaiion sougIi in a ariicular forn would disrooriionaicly divcri iIc rcsourccs of iIc ullic auiIoriiy or nay causc Iarn io iIc safciy or rcscrvaiion of iIc rccords, suly of infornaiion in iIai forn nay lc dcnicd.
viii. Only sucI infornaiion is rcquircd io lc sulicd undcr iIc Aci, wIicI alrcady cisis and is Icld ly iIc ullic auiIoriiy or Icld undcr iIc conirol of iIc ullic auiIoriiy.
i. TIc PIO is noi suoscd io crcaic infornaiion; or io inicrrci infornaiion; or io solvc iIc rollcns raiscd ly iIc alicanis; or io furnisI rclics io IyoiIciical qucsiions.
3) InIormatIon Exempted From DIscIosure
i. TIc rigIi io sccl infornaiion fron a ullic auiIoriiy is noi alsoluic. Scciion 8 and 9 of iIc Aci cnuncraic iIc caicgorics of infornaiion, wIicI arc ccnicd fron disclosurc.
ii. ScIcdulc II of iIc Aci coniains iIc nancs of iIc Iniclligcncc and Sccuriiy Organisaiions wIicI arc ccnicd fron iIc urvicw of iIc Aci. TIc ccniion of iIc organisaiions, Iowcvcr, docs noi covcr suly of infornaiion rclaiing io allcgaiions of corruiion and Iunan rigIis violaiions.
iii. SuI-sccton (l) o sccton S und sccton 9 of iIc Aci cnuncraic iIc iycs of infornaiion, wIicI is ccnicd fron disclosurc.
iv. Sul-scciion (2} of scciion 8, Iowcvcr, rovidcs iIai infornaiion ccnicd undcr sul-scciion (1} or ccnicd undcr iIc Official Sccrcis Aci, 1923 can lc discloscd if ullic inicrcsi in disclosurc ovcrwcigIs iIc Iarn io iIc roiccicd inicrcsi.
v. FuriIcr, Sul-scciion (3} of scciion 8 rovidcs iIai infornaiion ccnicd fron disclosurc undcr sul-scciion (1}, ccci as rovidcd in clauscs (a}, (c} and (i} iIcrcof, would ccasc io lc ccnicd aficr 20 ycars fron iIc daic of occurrcncc of iIc rclaicd cvcni cic.
vi. Ii nay lc noicd iIai scciion 8(3} of iIc Aci docs noi rcquirc iIc ullic auiIoriiics io rciain rccords for indcfiniic criod. TIc rccords sIould lc rciaincd as cr iIc rccord rcicniion scIcdulc alicallc io iIc conccrncd ullic auiIoriiy. Infornaiion gcncraicd in a filc nay survivc in iIc forn of an OM or a lciicr or in any oiIcr forn cvcn aficr dcsiruciion of iIc filc/rccord. TIc Aci rcquircs furnisIing of infornaiion so availallc aficr iIc lasc of 20 ycars cvcn if sucI infornaiion was ccni fron disclosurc undcr sul- scciion (1} of Scciion 8. Ii ncans iIai iIc infornaiion, wIicI in nornal coursc is ccni fron disclosurc undcr sul-scciion (1} of Scciion 8 of iIc Aci, would ccasc io lc ccnicd if 20 ycars Iavc lascd aficr occurrcncc of iIc incidcni io wIicI iIc infornaiion rclaics. Howcvcr, iIc following iycs of infornaiion would coniinuc io lc ccni and iIcrc would lc no olligaiion, cvcn aficr lasc of 20 ycars, io givc any ciiizcn.-
a. infornaiion disclosurc of wIicI would rcjudicially affcci iIc sovcrcigniy and inicgriiy of India, iIc sccuriiy, siraicgic, scicniific or ccononic inicrcsi of iIc Siaic, rclaiion wiiI forcign siaic or lcad io inciicncni of an offcncc;
l. infornaiion iIc disclosurc of wIicI would causc a lrcacI of rivilcgc of Parliancni or Siaic Lcgislaiurc; or
c. calinci acrs including rccords of dclilcraiions of iIc Council of Minisicrs, Sccrciarics and oiIcr Officcrs suljcci io iIc condiiions givcn in roviso io clausc (i} of sul-scciion( 1} of Scciion 8 of iIc Aci.
4) RIgbt to InIormatIon vIs-a-vIs otber Acts
TIc FTI Aci Ias ovcr-riding cffcci vis-a-vis oiIcr laws inasnucI as iIc rovisions of iIc FTI Aci would Iavc cffcci noiwiiIsianding anyiIing inconsisicni iIcrcwiiI coniaincd in iIc Official Sccrcis Aci, 1923, and any oiIcr law for iIc iinc lcing in forcc or in any insiruncni Iaving cffcci ly viriuc of any law oiIcr iIan iIc FTI Aci.
S) RenderIng AssIstance to AppIIcants
i. TIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr Ias a duiy io rcndcr rcasonallc assisiancc io iIc crsons sccling infornaiion. As cr rovisions of iIc Aci, a crson, wIo dcsircs io oliain any infornaiion, is rcquircd io nalc a rcqucsi in wriiing or iIrougI clccironic ncans in EnglisI or Hindi or in iIc official languagc of iIc arca in wIicI iIc alicaiion is nadc. If a crson sccling infornaiion is noi allc io nalc sucI rcqucsi in wriiing, iIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIould rcndcr rcasonallc assisiancc io Iin io rcducc iIc sanc in wriiing.
ii. WIcrc acccss io a rccord is rcquircd io lc rovidcd io a scnsorily disallcd crson, iIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIould assisi sucI crson io cnallc Iin io acccss iIc infornaiion. Hc sIould also rovidc sucI assisiancc io iIc crson as nay lc aroriaic for iIc inscciion of rccords wIcrc sucI inscciion is involvcd.
6) AssIstance AvaIIabIe to PIO
TIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr nay sccl iIc assisiancc of any oiIcr officcr as Ic or sIc considcrs ncccssary for iIc rocr discIargc of Iis or Icr duiics. TIc officcr, wIosc assisiancc is so sougIi ly iIc PIO, would rcndcr all assisiancc io Iin. SucI an officcr sIall lc dccncd io lc a Pullic Infornaiion Officcr and would lc liallc for coniravcniion of any rovisions of iIc Aci iIc sanc way as any oiIcr Pullic Infornaiion Officcr. Ii would lc advisallc for iIc PIO io inforn iIc officcr wIosc assisiancc is sougIi, aloui iIc alovc rovision, ai iIc iinc of sccling Iis assisiancc.
?) Suo-motu DIscIosure
TIc Aci nalcs ii olligaiory for cvcry ullic auiIoriiy io nalc suo-notu disclosurc in rcscci of iIc ariiculars of iis organizaiion, funciions, duiics and oiIcr naiicrs, as rovidcd in scciion 4 of iIc Aci. TIc infornaiion so ullisIcd, according io sul-scciion (4} of scciion 4, sIould lc casily acccssillc wiiI iIc PIO in clccironic fornai. TIc PIO sIould, iIcrcforc, nalc conccrncd cfforis io cnsurc iIai iIc rcquircncnis of iIc Scciion 4 arc nci and nainun infornaiion in rcscci of iIc ullic auiIoriiy is nadc availallc on iIc inicrnci. Ii would Icl Iin in iwo ways. Firsi, iIc nunlcr of alicaiions undcr iIc Aci would lc rcduccd and sccondly, ii would faciliiaic Iis worl of roviding infornaiion inasnucI as nosi of iIc infornaiion would lc availallc io Iin ai onc lacc.
S) Fee Ior SeekIng InIormatIon
a. An alicani, along wiiI Iis alicaiion, is rcquircd io scnd a dcnand drafi or a lanlcr's cIcquc or an Indian Posial Ordcr of FS.10/- (Fuccs icn}, ayallc io iIc Accounis Officcr of iIc ullic auiIoriiy as fcc rcscrilcd for sccling infornaiion. Hc can also nalc ayncni of fcc ly way of casI io iIc Accounis Officcr of iIc ullic auiIoriiy or io iIc Ccniral Assisiani Pullic Infornaiion Officcr againsi rocr rcccii.
l. Addiiional fcc Ias lccn rcscrilcd ly iIc FigIi io Infornaiion Fcgulaiion of Fcc and Cosi} Fulcs, 2005 for suly of infornaiion as givcn lclow.-
i. ruccs iwo (Fs. 2/-} for cacI agc ( in A-4 or A-3 sizc acr} crcaicd or coicd; ii. aciual cIargc or cosi ricc of a coy in largcr sizc acr; iii. aciual cosi or ricc for sanlcs or nodcls; iv. for inscciion of rccords, no fcc for iIc firsi Iour; and a fcc of ruccs fivc (Fs. 5/-} for cacI sulscqucni Iour (or fraciion iIcrcof}; v. for infornaiion rovidcd in dislciic or floy ruccs fifiy (Fs.50/-} cr dislciic or floy; and vi. for infornaiion rovidcd in rinicd forn ai iIc ricc ficd for sucI ullicaiion or ruccs iwo cr agc of Ioiocoy for ciracis fron iIc ullicaiion.
a. If iIc alicani lclongs io lclow ovcriy linc (DPL} caicgory, Ic is noi rcquircd io ay any fcc. Howcvcr, Ic sIould sulnii a roof in suori of Iis clain io lclong io iIc lclow ovcriy linc. TIc alicaiion noi acconanicd ly iIc rcscrilcd fcc of FS.10/- or roof of iIc alicani's lclonging io lclow ovcriy linc, as iIc casc nay lc, sIall noi lc a valid alicaiion undcr iIc Aci and, iIcrcforc, docs noi cniiilc iIc alicani io gci infornaiion.
9) Contents and Format oI AppIIcatIon
An alicani naling rcqucsi for infornaiion is noi rcquircd io givc any rcason for rcqucsiing iIc infornaiion or any oiIcr crsonal dciails ccci iIosc iIai nay lc ncccssary for coniaciing Iin. Also, iIc Aci or iIc Fulcs do noi rcscrilc any fornai of alicaiion for sccling infornaiion. TIcrcforc, iIc alicani sIould noi lc aslcd io givc jusiificaiion for sccling infornaiion or io givc dciails of Iis jol cic. or io sulnii alicaiion in any ariicular forn.
10) InvaIId AppIIcatIons
Soon aficr rccciving iIc alicaiion, iIc PIO sIould cIccl wIciIcr iIc alicani Ias nadc iIc ayncni of alicaiion fcc of Fs. 10 or wIciIcr iIc alicani is a crson lclonging io a Dclow Povcriy Linc (DPL} fanily. If alicaiion is noi acconanicd ly iIc rcscrilcd fcc or iIc DPL Ccriificaic, ii cannoi lc ircaicd as a valid alicaiion undcr iIc FTI Aci and nay lc ignorcd.
11) TransIer oI AppIIcatIon
a. If iIc alicaiion is acconanicd ly iIc rcscrilcd fcc or iIc Dclow Povcriy Linc Ccriificaic, iIc PIO sIould cIccl wIciIcr iIc suljcci naiicr of iIc alicaiion or a ari iIcrcof conccrns sonc oiIcr ullic auiIoriiy. If iIc suljcci naiicr of iIc alicaiion conccrns any oiIcr ullic auiIoriiy, ii sIould lc iransfcrrcd io iIai ullic auiIoriiy. If only a ari of iIc alicaiion conccrns iIc oiIcr ullic auiIoriiy, a coy of iIc alicaiion nay lc scni io iIai ullic auiIoriiy, clcarly sccifying iIc ari, wIicI rclaics io iIai ullic auiIoriiy. WIilc iransfcrring iIc alicaiion or scnding a coy iIcrcof, iIc conccrncd ullic auiIoriiy sIould lc inforncd iIai iIc alicaiion fcc Ias lccn rcccivcd. TIc alicani sIould also lc inforncd aloui iIc iransfcr of Iis alicaiion and iIc ariiculars of iIc ullic auiIoriiy io wIon iIc alicaiion or a coy iIcrcof Ias lccn scni.
l. Transfcr of alicaiion or ari iIcrcof, as iIc casc nay lc, sIould lc nadc as soon as ossillc and in any casc wiiIin fivc days fron iIc daic of rcccii of iIc alicaiion. If a PIO iransfcrs an alicaiion aficr fivc days fron iIc rcccii of iIc alicaiion, Ic would lc rcsonsillc for dclay in disosing of iIc alicaiion io iIc cicni of nunlcr of days wIicI Ic ialcs in iransfcrring iIc alicaiion lcyond 5 days.
c. TIc PIO of iIc ullic auiIoriiy io wIon iIc alicaiion is iransfcrrcd, sIould noi rcfusc accciancc of iransfcr of iIc alicaiion on iIc ground iIai ii was noi iransfcrrcd io Iin wiiIin 5 days.
d. A ullic auiIoriiy nay dcsignaic as nany PIOs for ii, as ii nay dccn ncccssary. Ii is ossillc iIai in a ullic auiIoriiy wiiI norc iIan onc PIO, an alicaiion is rcccivcd ly iIc PIO oiIcr iIan iIc conccrncd PIO. In sucI a casc, iIc PIO rccciving iIc alicaiion sIould iransfcr ii io iIc conccrncd PIO inncdiaicly, rcfcrally iIc sanc day. Tinc criod of fivc days for iransfcr of iIc alicaiion alics only wIcn iIc alicaiion is iransfcrrcd fron onc ullic auiIoriiy io anoiIcr ullic auiIoriiy and noi for iransfcr fron onc PIO io anoiIcr in iIc sanc ullic auiIoriiy.
12) SuppIy oI InIormatIon
a. TIc answcring PIO sIould cIccl wIciIcr iIc infornaiion sougIi or a ari iIcrcof is ccni fron disclosurc undcr scciion 8 or Scciion 9 of iIc Aci. Fcqucsi in rcscci of iIc ari of iIc alicaiion, wIicI is so ccni, nay lc rcjccicd and rcsi of iIc infornaiion sIould lc rovidcd inncdiaicly or aficr rcccii of addiiional fccs, as iIc casc nay lc.
l. WIcrc a rcqucsi for infornaiion is rcjccicd, iIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIould connunicaic io iIc crson naling iIc rcqucsi.- (i} iIc rcasons for sucI rcjcciion; (ii} iIc criod wiiIin wIicI an acal againsi sucI rcjcciion nay lc rcfcrrcd; and (iii}iIc ariiculars of iIc auiIoriiy io wIon an acal can lc nadc.
c. If addiiional fcc is rcquircd io lc aid ly iIc alicani as rovidcd in iIc FigIi io Infornaiion (Fcgulaiion of Fcc and Cosi} Fulcs, 2005, iIc Ccniral Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIould inforn iIc alicani.-
(i} iIc dciails of furiIcr fccs rcquircd io lc aid; (ii} iIc calculaiions nadc io arrivc ai iIc anouni of fccs aslcd for; (iii}iIc faci iIai iIc alicani Ias a rigIi io nalc acal aloui iIc anouni of fccs so dcnandcd; (iv} iIc ariiculars of iIc auiIoriiy io wIon sucI an acal can lc nadc; and (v} iIc iinc linii wiiIin wIicI iIc acal can lc nadc.
13) SuppIy oI Part InIormatIon by Severance
WIcrc a. rcqucsi is rcccivcd for acccss io infornaiion, wIicI is ccni fron disclosurc lui a ari of, wIicI is noi ccnicd and sucI ari can lc scvcrcd in sucI a way iIai iIc scvcrcd ari docs noi coniain ccni infornaiion iIcn, acccss io iIai ari of iIc infornaiion/rccord nay lc rovidcd io iIc alicani. WIcrc acccss is granicd io a ari of iIc rccord in sucI a way, iIc Ccniral Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIould inforn iIc alicani iIai iIc infornaiion aslcd for is ccni fron disclosurc and iIai only ari of iIc rccord is lcing rovidcd, aficr scvcrancc, wIicI is noi ccni fron disclosurc. WIilc doing so, Ic sIould givc iIc rcasons for iIc dccision, including any findings on any naicrial qucsiion of faci, rcfcrring io iIc naicrial on wIicI iIosc findings wcrc lascd. TIc PIO sIould ialc iIc aroval of aroriaic auiIoriiy lcforc suly of infornaiion in sucI a casc and sIould inforn iIc nanc and dcsignaiion of iIc crson giving iIc dccision io iIc alicani also.
14) TIme PerIod Ior SuppIy oI InIormatIon
a. Tbe PIO sbouId suppIy tbe InIormatIon wItbIn tbIrty days oI tbe receIpt oI tbe request. WIcrc iIc infornaiion sougIi for conccrns iIc lifc or lilcriy of a crson, iIc sanc sIould lc rovidcd wiiIin foriy-cigIi Iours of iIc rcccii of iIc rcqucsi.
l. Every pubIIc autborIty Is requIred to desIgnate an oIIIcer at eacb sub-dIvIsIonaI IeveI or otber sub-dIstrIct IeveI as a AssIstant PubIIc InIormatIon OIIIcer (APIO) to receIve tbe appIIcatIons or appeaIs under tbe Act Ior IorwardIng tbe same to tbe PubIIc InIormatIon OIIIcer or tbe IIrst AppeIIate AutborIty or tbe InIormatIon CommIssIon. If rcqucsi for infornaiion is rcccivcd iIrougI iIc APIO, iIc infornaiion nay lc rovidcd wiiIin 35 days of rcccii of alicaiion ly iIc APIO in nornal coursc and 48 Iours lus 5 days in casc iIc infornaiion sougIi conccrns iIc lifc or lilcriy of a crson.
c. In casc of an alicaiion iransfcrrcd fron onc ullic auiIoriiy io anoiIcr ullic auiIoriiy, as rcfcrrcd io in ara 21, rcly sIould lc rovidcd ly iIc conccrncd ullic auiIoriiy wiiIin 30 days of iIc rcccii of iIc alicaiion ly iIai ullic auiIoriiy in nornal coursc and wiiIin 48 Iours in casc iIc infornaiion sougIi conccrns iIc lifc or lilcriy of a crson.
d. TIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr(s} of iIc iniclligcncc and sccuriiy organisaiions sccificd in iIc Sccond ScIcdulc of iIc Aci nay rcccivc alicaiions sccling infornaiion criaining io allcgaiions of corruiion and Iunan rigIis violaiions. Infornaiion in rcscci of allcgaiions of violaiion of Iunan rigIis, wIicI is rovidcd only aficr iIc aroval of iIc Ccniral Infornaiion Connission, sIould lc rovidcd wiiIin foriy-fivc days fron iIc daic of iIc rcccii of rcqucsi. Tinc linii rcscrilcd for sulying infornaiion in rcgard io allcgaiions of corruiion is iIc sanc as in oiIcr cascs.
c. WIcrc iIc alicani is aslcd io ay addiiional fcc, iIc criod inicrvcning lciwccn iIc disaicI of iIc iniinaiion aloui ayncni of fcc and iIc ayncni of fcc ly iIc alicani sIall lc ccludcd for iIc urosc of calculaiing iIc criod of rcly. TIc following iallc sIows iIc nainun iinc wIicI nay lc ialcn io disosc off iIc alicaiions in' diffcrcni siiuaiions.-
f. If iIc PIO fails io givc dccision on iIc rcqucsi for infornaiion wiiIin iIc rcscrilcd criod, iIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIall lc dccncd io Iavc rcfuscd iIc rcqucsi. Ii is criincni io noic iIai if a ullic auiIoriiy fails io conly wiiI iIc sccificd iinc linii, iIc infornaiion io iIc conccrncd alicani would Iavc io lc rovidcd frcc of cIargc.
1S) TbIrd Party InIormatIon
a. TIird ariy in rclaiion io iIc Aci ncans a crson oiIcr iIan iIc ciiizcn wIo Ias nadc rcqucsi for infornaiion. Any ullic auiIoriiy oiIcr iIan iIc ullic auiIoriiy io wIon iIc rcqucsi Ias lccn nadc sIall also lc includcd in iIc dcfiniiion of iIird ariy.
l. Ii nay lc noicd iIai infornaiion including conncrcial confidcncc, iradc sccrcis or inicllcciual rocriy, iIc disclosurc of wIicI would Iarn iIc conciiiivc osiiion of a iIird ariy, is ccni fron disclosurc. Scciion 8(1}(d} rcquircs iIai sucI infornaiion sIould noi lc discloscd unlcss iIc concicni auiIoriiy is saiisficd iIai largcr ullic inicrcsi warranis iIc disclosurc of sucI infornaiion.
c. If an alicani sccls any infornaiion wIicI rclaics io or Ias lccn sulicd ly a iIird ariy and iIai iIird ariy Ias ircaicd iIai infornaiion as confidcniial, iIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIould considcr wIciIcr iIc infornaiion sIould lc discloscd or noi. TIc guiding rincilc in sucI cascs sIould lc iIai ccci in iIc casc of iradc or conncrcial sccrcis roiccicd ly law, disclosurc nay lc allowcd if iIc ullic inicrcsi in disclosurc ouiwcigIs in inoriancc any ossillc Iarn or injury io iIc inicrcsis of sucI iIird ariy. Howcvcr, roccdurc as givcn lclow sIould lc followcd lcforc disclosing sucI infornaiion. Ii nay lc noicd iIai iIis roccdurc nccd lc followcd only wIcn iIc iIird ari Ias ircaicd iIc infornaiion as confidcniial.
d. If iIc PIO inicnds io disclosc iIc infornaiion, Ic sIould wiiIin fivc days fron iIc rcccii of iIc alicaiion, givc a wriiicn noiicc io iIc iIird ariy iIai iIc infornaiion Ias lccn sougIi ly iIc alicani undcr iIc FTI Aci and iIai Ic inicnds io disclosc iIc infornaiion. Hc sIould rcqucsi iIc iIird ariy io nalc a sulnission in wriiing or orally, rcgarding wIciIcr iIc infornaiion sIould lc discloscd. TIc iIird ariy sIould lc givcn a iinc of icn days, fron iIc daic of rcccii of iIc noiicc ly Iin, io nalc rcrcscniaiion againsi iIc rooscd disclosurc, if any.
c. TIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIould nalc a dccision rcgarding disclosurc of iIc infornaiion lccing in vicw iIc sulnission of iIc iIird ariy. SucI a dccision sIould lc ialcn wiiIin foriy days fron iIc rcccii of iIc rcqucsi for infornaiion. Aficr ialing iIc dccision, iIc PIO sIould givc a noiicc of Iis dccision io iIc iIird ariy in wriiing. TIc noiicc givcn io iIc iIird ariy sIould includc a siaicncni iIai iIc iIird ariy is cniiilcd io rcfcr an acal undcr scciion 19 againsi iIc dccision.
f. TIc iIird ariy can rcfcr an acal io iIc Firsi Acllaic AuiIoriiy againsi iIc dccision nadc ly iIc Ccniral Pullic Infornaiion Officcr wiiIin iIiriy days fron iIc daic of iIc rcccii of noiicc. If noi saiisficd wiiI iIc dccision of iIc Firsi Acllaic AuiIoriiy, iIc iIird ariy can rcfcr iIc sccond acal io iIc Ccniral Infornaiion Connission.
g. If an acal Ias lccn filcd ly iIc iIird ariy againsi iIc dccision of iIc PIO io disclosc iIc iIird ariy infornaiion, iIc infornaiion sIould noi lc discloscd iill iIc acal is dccidcd.
16) AppeaIs and CompIaInts
a. If an alicani is noi sulicd infornaiion wiiIin iIc rcscrilcd iinc linii, or is noi saiisficd wiiI iIc infornaiion furnisIcd io Iin, Ic nay rcfcr an acal io iIc firsi acllaic auiIoriiy wIo is an officcr scnior in ranl io iIc PIO. SucI an acal can lc nadc wiiIin a criod of 30 days fron iIc daic on wIicI iinc linii for suly of infornaiion circs or iIc dccision of iIc PIO is rcccivcd. TIc acllaic auiIoriiy of iIc ullic auiIoriiy is cccicd io disosc of iIc acal wiiIin a criod of iIiriy days or in ccciional cascs wiiIin 45 days of iIc rcccii of iIc acal. If iIc firsi acllaic auiIoriiy fails io ass an ordcr on iIc acal wiiIin iIc rcscrilcd criod of if iIc acllaic is noi saiisficd wiiI iIc ordcr of iIc firsi acllaic auiIoriiy, Ic nay rcfcr a sccond acal wiiI iIc Ccniral infornaiion Connission wiiIin ninciy days fron iIc daic on wIicI iIc dccision sIould Iavc lccn nadc ly iIc firsi acllaic auiIoriiy or was aciually rcccivcd ly iIc acllani.
l. If any crson is unallc io sulnii a rcqucsi io a Pullic Infornaiion Officcr ciiIcr ly rcason iIai sucI an officcr Ias noi lccn aoinicd ly iIc conccrncd ullic auiIoriiy; or iIc Assisiani Ccniral Pullic Infornaiion Officcr Ias rcfuscd io accci Iis or Icr alicaiion or acal for forwarding iIc sanc io iIc Ccniral Pullic Infornaiion Officcr or iIc acllaic auiIoriiy, as iIc casc nay lc; or Ic Ias lccn rcfuscd acccss io any infornaiion rcqucsicd ly Iin undcr iIc FTI Aci; or Ic Ias noi lccn givcn a rcsonsc io a rcqucsi for infornaiion wiiIin iIc iinc linii sccificd in iIc Aci; or Ic Ias lccn rcquircd io ay an anouni of fcc wIicI Ic considcrs unrcasonallc; or Ic lclicvcs iIai Ic Ias lccn givcn inconlcic, nislcading or falsc infornaiion, Ic can nalc a conlaini io iIc Ccniral Infornaiion Connission.
1?) ImposItIon oI PenaIty
As oinicd oui alovc, an alicani undcr iIc Aci Ias a rigIi io acal io iIc Ccniral Infornaiion Connission and also io nalc conlaini io iIc Connission. WIcrc iIc Ccniral Infornaiion Connission ai iIc iinc of dcciding any conlaini or acal is of iIc oinion iIai iIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr Ias wiiIoui any rcasonallc causc, rcfuscd io rcccivc an alicaiion for infornaiion or Ias noi furnisIcd infornaiion wiiIin iIc iinc is sccificd or nalafidcly dcnicd iIc rcqucsi for infornaiion or lnowingly givcn incorrcci, inconlcic or nislcading infornaiion or dcsiroycd infornaiion wIicI was iIc suljcci of iIc rcqucsi or olsirucicd in any nanncr in furnisIing iIc infornaiion, ii sIall inosc a cnaliy of iwo Iundrcd and fifiy ruccs cacI day iill alicaiion is rcccivcd or infornaiion is furnisIcd suljcci io iIc condiiion iIai iIc ioial anouni of sucI cnaliy sIall noi ccccd iwcniy-fivc iIousand ruccs. TIc Ccniral Pullic Infornaiion Officcr sIall, Iowcvcr, lc givcn a rcasonallc ooriuniiy of lcing Icard lcforc any cnaliy is inoscd on Iin. TIc lurdcn of roving iIai Ic acicd rcasonally and diligcnily and in casc of dcnial of a rcqucsi iIai sucI dcnial was jusiificd sIall lc on iIc Ccniral Pullic Infornaiion Officcr.
1S) CIC may recommend dIscIpIInary ActIon agaInst PIO
WIcrc iIc Ccniral Infornaiion Connission ai iIc iinc of dcciding any conlaini or acal is of iIc oinion iIai iIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr Ias wiiIoui any rcasonallc causc and crsisicnily, failcd io rcccivc an alicaiion for infornaiion or Ias noi furnisIcd infornaiion wiiIin iIc iinc sccificd or nalafidcly dcnicd iIc rcqucsi for infornaiion or lnowingly givcn incorrcci, inconlcic or nislcading infornaiion or dcsiroycd infornaiion wIicI was iIc suljcci of iIc rcqucsi or olsirucicd in any nanncr in furnisIing iIc infornaiion, ii nay rcconncnd for discilinary aciion againsi iIc Pullic Infornaiion Officcr.
19) ProtectIon Ior Work Done In Good FaItb
Scciion 21 of iIc Aci rovidcs iIai no suii, rosccuiion or oiIcr lcgal rocccding sIall lic againsi any crson for anyiIing wIicI is in good faiiI donc or inicndcd io lc donc undcr iIc Aci or any rulc nadc iIcrc undcr. A PIO sIould, Iowcvcr, noic iIai ii would lc Iis rcsonsililiiy io rovc iIai Iis aciion was in good faiiI.
20) AnnuaI Report oI tbe CIC
TIc Ccniral Infornaiion Connission rcarcs a rcori on iIc inlcncniaiion of iIc rovisions of iIc FTI Aci cvcry ycar, wIicI is laid lcforc cacI Housc of iIc Parliancni. TIis rcori, ntc-uu, Ias io includc infornaiion aloui iIc nunlcr of rcqucsis nadc io cacI ullic auiIoriiy, iIc nunlcr of dccisions wIcrc iIc alicanis wcrc noi cniiilcd io acccss io docuncnis rcqucsicd for, iIc rovisions of iIc Aci undcr wIicI iIcsc dccisions wcrc nadc and iIc nunlcr of iincs sucI rovisions wcrc involcd, iIc anouni of cIargcs collccicd ly cacI ullic auiIoriiy undcr iIc Aci. EacI Minisiry/Dcarincni is rcquircd io collcci sucI infornaiion fron all iIc ullic auiIoriiics undcr iis jurisdiciion and scnd iIc sanc io iIc Connission. TIc CPIOs sIould nainiain iIc rcquisiic infornaiion in iIis rcgard so iIai ii nay lc sulicd io iIcir adninisiraiivc Minisiry/Dcarincni soon aficr iIc cnd of iIc ycar, wIicI in iurn nay suly io iIc Connission.
AT A GLANCE ACTION OF PIO
Sr. SItuatIon
TIme IImIt Ior dIsposIng oII appIIcatIons 1. Suly of infornaiion in nornal coursc 30 days
2. Suly of infornaiion if ii conccrns iIc lifc or lilcriy of a crson
48 Iours 3. Suly of infornaiion if iIc alicaiion is rcccivcd iIrougI APIO.
05 days sIall lc addcd io iIc iinc criod indicaicd ai Sr. No.1 and 2. 4. Suly of infornaiion if alicaiion/ rcqucsi is rcccivcd aficr iransfcr fron anoiIcr ullic auiIoriiy. (a} In nornal coursc
(l} In casc iIc infornaiion conccrns iIc lifc or lilcriy of a crson (a} WiiIin 30 days of iIc rcccii of iIc alicaiion ly iIc conccrncd ullic auiIoriiy.
(l} WiiIin 48 Iours of rcccii of iIc alicaiion ly iIc conccrncd ullic auiIoriiy.
5. Suly of infornaiion ly organizaiions sccificd in iIc Sccond ScIcdulc.
(a} If infornaiion rclaics io allcgaiions of violaiion of Iunan rigIis.
(l} In casc infornaiion rclaics io allcgaiions of corruiion.
(a} 45 days fron iIc rcccii of alicaiion.
(l} WiiIin 30 days of iIc rcccii of alicaiion.
6. Suly of infornaiion if ii rclaics io iIird ariy and iIc iIird ariy Ias ircaicd ii as confidcniial. SIould lc rovidcd aficr following iIc roccdurc givcn in ara 15 of iIcsc guidclincs.
7. Suly of infornaiion wIcrc iIc alicani is aslcd io ay addiiional fcc. TIc criod inicrvcning lciwccn inforning iIc alicani aloui addiiional fcc and iIc ayncni of fcc ly iIc alicani sIall lc ccludcd for calculaiing iIc criod of rcly.