My RTI application came back opened as there's no PIO

[fightin498a]

Hi friends,
I sent an RTI application addressed to the PIO, o/o DIG of Police, Bhubaneswar, by speed post with A/D.
Yesterday, it came back with the envelop opened, and the following written on the envelop:

No such addressee in this designation. Hence returned.

Moreover, the a/d is missing too.

Now I'm planning to send the application to the CPIO, Home ministry, Orissa secretariat directly...
Any more suggestions from experienced people?
Should I also file an RTI to the postal dept about why was the envelop opened, if not delivered, and why is the a/d not delivered back with it?

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[karira]

Sponsorer

fightin498a,

The details of the PIO in the DIG Orissa office are given here:

http://www.orissapolice.nic.in/rti/POLICE/man16.pdf

Hope you addressed the RTI application to the correct PIO.

You can either:

1. File First Appeal under Sec 19(1) with the FAA, details also given in the above link
2. OR File a complaint with the Orissa SIC under Sec 18(1)(a)
(SIC normally prefers that you exhaust First Appeal, as in item 1, before filing Complaint)
3. OR apply through the Orissa state home department.
PIO details are available at: http://www.orissa.gov.in/homedept/rt.../Manual-16.pdf

(Please try to address to the Officer by designation rather than by Name:
State Public Information Officer (SPIO)
under RTI Act 2005
Office of the Director General of Police
..............................................
..............................................)

Regarding the matter of the lost AD card, why don't you just file a ordinary complaint to the Post Office from which you sent your Registered AD letter. If there is no response, then file a RTI application with them.

[colnrkurup]

Unlike other departments, at lower and middle level the Police Department is generally found not awre of the RTI Act nor it can digestthe concept of RTI. I had an exactly same experience. I had immediately filed a first appeal with photostat of the envelop. I got the informtion within 24 hours. In your case please file the First Appeal to the DIG as the AA enclosing the photostat of the envelop. It appear that you have not insisted on the Postman endorcing the remarks that the envelop is delivered back open. In case you donot have any proof of returning the envelop open, bringing in this aspect is futile. You are bound to get the reply from DIG. Let the DIG say that there is no PIO in his office.

[fightin498a]

Thanks a lot Col. Kurup and Karira for the prompt suggestions.
@Karira,
Yes I have both the PDFs you gave me, and I did address it to the PIO as:
The Public Information Officer,
O/o DIG of Police,
Bhubaneswar Range,
Bhubaneswar-9.

Now, the confusion I have is, should I really go for the 1st appeal with the envelop's photocopy or resend the original application to the SPIO of the home dept. also attaching the envelop's photocopy?

[karira]

I suggest it is better to go for First Appeal since that will also help the PA in streamlining its receipts of RTI applications. Future applicants will not face similar problems like you.