Please read my post #3 above once again
Proof of identity and proof of citizenship are two totally different things.
If I am asked to prove my "identity", I can even show my ID card issued by a private company and whosoever is interested can cross verify with them. I can even show my driving licence issued in a foreign country as a proof of my identity (although I am a Indian citizen).
Please do not confuse the two.
RTI Act is for Indian citizens (as per Sec 3), OCI's and
PIO's (Persons of Indian Origin) and therefore the
PIO can (although I will always attribute malicious intent to such actions by the
PIO) ask for proof of citizenship, proof of OCI, proof of
PIO, etc...
The
PIO has no business to ask for "proof of identity" at the time of application.
If the drafters of the
RTI Act wanted anyone to show his identity or prove his citizenship at the time of application, they would have expressly included that in the
RTI Act itself with the words...
"information will be provided on payment and on proof of identity by the applicant....."
These days,
CIC and some
SIC's, are liberally allowing Companies, Associations, Samitis, Unions, Trusts, Cooperatives, etc.... to apply under the
RTI Act. Please show me one instance where a
PIO has asked for proof of identity or citizenship to any of these. How did they prove it ?
By the way, how many times have any of you gone to a Government office to submit a application under
RTI and ask the
PIO his proof of identity and for proof that he is really the
PIO ? Try it and see the reaction.
In the absence of anything specific in the
RTI Act, please do not allow the
PIO to get away with murder, by giving any benefit of doubt.
opsharma,
The thread became suddenly active since manoj just saw it today and posted in it.