PIOs reply in same language as RTI application - specially Hindi

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No. RTI/A45012/1/2012-LC
Government of India
Ministry of Law & Justice
Department of Legal Affairs
Law Commission of India
Indian Law Institute Building
Bhagwan Das Road
New Delhi – 110001


Dated – 20.07.2012


Mr. Mani Ram Sharma
Advocate
Nakul Nivas, Behind Roadways Depot
District – Churu, Rajasthan .

Subj: First Appeal.

This is relating to your First Appeal under the Right to Information Act, 2005 against the decision dated 08.06.2012 passed by CPIO, Law Commission of India on your application dated 28.05.2012. The appellant has taken the preliminary objection under para 1 of the appeal dated 04.07.2012 regarding the submission of information by the CPIO in English instead of in Hindi as the applicant had given his application dated 28.05.2012 in Hindi.

Although the appellant in his application dated 28.05.2012 has also evidently used the English language at about five places, yet the observation of the Information Commissioner may be kept in view in the matter of Chandan Kumar vs. CPIO (2010) CIC 3112, para 3, holding that RTI application in the regional language must be supplied in the same language and also observed since the ministries of the Government of India are provided with Raj Bhasha officers, there is no reason by the CPIO should not use Hindi language in replying such an application.

Although the Law Commission of India is not having any Raj Bhasha officer on its strength, but this should not be a constraint for the CPIO not to give the reply in Hindi. In order to comply with the above observation of the learned Information Commissioner, the CPIO may supply the information to the applicant/appellant in Hindi also by utilizing the services of Hindi officer of the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice if so required. After furnishing the information to the applicant in Hindi, the appellant/applicant would be at liberty to make fresh appeal against the order which the CPIO proposes to pass.

The appeal is, therefore, disposed of with the above direction.

Hindi version of this order will be communicated as and when the translation is obtained.
(Sushil Kumar)
Appellate Authority
Law Commission of India
New Delhi.

Copy to: CPIO, Law Commission of India.

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Sponsorer

As per Official Language Act, letter written in Hindi has to be replied in Hindi only. Following link will also be of relevance:

http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/blogs/...under-rti.html