Oral Request?

[jeevan]

I wanted to know weather my oral request be entertained at public officer?

[kushal]

No. The application shall be reduced into writing and signed by the applicant and the reply forwarded shall also be in writing. Oral transmission of information is not permissible under RTI.

[maneesh]

YES,
One can apply for information under RTI Orally as well.

Kushal point is correct in the regard that the reduction to writing part of the process will be done by the CPIO/CAPIO.

Section 5 (3) of the RTI reads as

Every Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall deal with requests from persons seeking information and render reasonable assistance to the persons seeking such information.

If a perso is unable to submit is application in writing then CPIO has to reduce his request in writing and process such application.

In out country a large section of population is still illeterate and they cannot be denied the RTI as they cannot write.

[maneesh]

I would like to update and add to my earlier answer.
Section 6 proviso specifically provides for oral request


Provided that where such request cannot be made in writing, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall render all reasonable assistance to the person making the request orally to reduce the same in writing.

[jeevan]

Well I am a learned man and I could write any application like this post and would never require help of section 5 and 6 of RTI

My point was simply: "weather I can make a telephonic request or by simply asking the CPIO about the information, without actually writing down"?

[kushal]

as I mentioned the answer is 'NO'.

[jeevan]

I guess CPIO will not get down to writing if I asked for something orally and later send it to me for signature?

And woun't he sue me for talking orally and that he has written down as under RTI section 5 & 6

[maneesh]

CPIO will inform you that they are working on the information and your request for information will be treated as application under RTI only when requiste fees are deposited.
Section 6 (1) of RTI is very clear

A person, who desires to obtain any information under this Act, shall make a request in writing or through electronic means in English or Hindi or in the official language of the area in which the application is being made, accompanying such fee as may be prescribed,



A public authority has to discharge a lot of function. The priamry role is to work for public welfare. If the priamary aim becomes only to provide information over telephones then the whole purpose of bringing efficiency will be defeated.

The key word is without the requiste fee a request cannot be treated as Application under RTI.

[arunonline]

Yes, that is true. No oral request can be entertained. Even though I donot know about the rule, but my common sense tells me that everything should be in writing.

[snkmoorthy]

sir, there is simply no place for oral requests as far as any legal activity is concerned and RTI act is no exception; if you make oral request in person, the PIO shall assist you to put down your queries in writing and that is mandated by the act itself. telephonic requests for information are not acceptable in law.

[Rajput]

Originally Posted by jeevan

Well I am a learned man and I could write any application like this post and would never require help of section 5 and 6 of RTI

My point was simply: "weather I can make a telephonic request or by simply asking the CPIO about the information, without actually writing down"?

You can make a request on phone if in Bihar. But not in other states.
You can send request on jankari call center if you want information in Bihar.

The South Asian: Bihar Government Leads Right to Information

Rajput

[snkmoorthy]

instead of asking the CPIO [who gathers information from various sources and transmits it] you may speak directly to the office super or the section clerk in charge of the matter. if not sensitive, these people generally part with information. if you speak to the PIO, he would have to charge for giving information and then writing becomes necessary.

[karira]

Originally Posted by snkmoorthy

instead of asking the CPIO [who gathers information from various sources and transmits it] you may speak directly to the office super or the section clerk in charge of the matter. if not sensitive, these people generally part with information. if you speak to the PIO, he would have to charge for giving information and then writing becomes necessary.

Because the officer or the section clerks were not giving information upon being asked, the RTI Act was promulgated in the first place !

[jps50]

PIO will help you reduce your request in writing. Only oral request will not work

[snkmoorthy]

karira sir, you are correct; rti act came into being because of the reluctance of govt. institutions to give info; but occasionally one comes across a good natured person who is ready to reply to simple queries made orally. that is what i wanted to convey in my post.

[sandeepbaheti]

Sec 6(1) clearly said that request for information is to be made "in writing or through electronic means" so oral request is clearly ruled out.
The proviso to this section specifies that where request cannot be made in writing the PIO has to provide reasonable assistance for request to be reduced in writing. However this is one idealistic provision of the act which is hardly being implemented as firstly there is no proof of oral request and secondly there is no penalty for its violation.