Interpretation of citizen in rti act

[SARAVANAN R]

As per the decision of the Commission vide 139/CPB/2006-25.10.2006, the information sought by office bearers of trade union are declared valid under the purview of CITIZEN entitled to seek information.

Is there any reversion on this stand by any subsequent rulings or amendment? Is there any other extra formalities to be complied with by the office bearer to insist upon the information being parted away by the CPIO.

[karira]

Is there any reversion on this stand by any subsequent rulings or amendment? Is there any other extra formalities to be complied with by the office bearer to insist upon the information being parted away by the CPIO.

Please go through this long thread which is running for more than two years. It contains many citations, etc. Please note the dates of the posts since the thread is old:


http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/328-ca...rmation-6.html (Can a Secretary ask for any information?)

Please also read:

http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/3287-c...ation-law.html (CIC clears ambiguity on rights of associations under RTI law)
http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/67-org...formation.html (organizations are barred to get information)

[advocate.rajat]

We have registered an Society with the Charitable Registrar, Dalhousie under the name of "Society for Protection of Forest and wildlife"

We made an application with the P.I.O, HIMUDA for getting information of plans approved by HIMUDA.

The PIO vide its letter replied that as a Society one cannot ask for information under the RTI Act as it does not fall in the definition of Citizen as prescribed under the relevant Section, as far as my understanding goes "The right to information is provided to all citizens and incorporated entity also"

Can any one shed some light on this

Thanks

Rajat

[ganpat1956]

Dear Rajat, I have merged with your post with an already existing thread on the subject. Please go through the reply of Karira in his post # 2 here and also the links provided by him.

[advocate.rajat]

Well from the discussion I came to the conclusion that an body incorporate is not a citizen and therefor can't ask for infromation under RTI

But I think this is an wrong approch. The only reason we formed a Society was to shield our self from the mindless politics of these Department, because it is easy to target an individual but its difficult to target people of a group, in our case the Society

None the less I would prefer my appeal to the State Chief Information Officer, lets see what he has to say about this

thanks everyone

[Atul Patankar]

The law to promote transparency does not allow you to use a smoke screen yourself. A seeker of truth, or in this case information, has to be prepared to take consequences.

[advocate.rajat]

That is correct to an extent that the truth does not comes at the stake of the safety to you or your loved ones. When you file an RTI application your family member(who is a Goverement employee) get a telephone call that either the RTI application should be withdrawn or your he will be transferred to one of the remotest place he could imagine.

Then truth is not that important but the safety of your family is.

[karira]

That is correct to an extent that the truth does not comes at the stake of the safety to you or your loved ones. When you file an RTI application your family member(who is a Goverement employee) get a telephone call that either the RTI application should be withdrawn or your he will be transferred to one of the remotest place he could imagine.

Then truth is not that important but the safety of your family is.

To avoid this, remember that any citizen, OCI or PIO Card holder can file a RTI Application.

The other way is file similar RTI applications from many people.

[pooorabyoura]

any citizen, OCI or PIO Card holder can file a RTI Application.

Have OCIs and PIOs been explicitly allowed to file under RTI, or is it by inference alone?

Thanks for any specific official directive in this regard...

[karira]

Have OCIs and PIOs been explicitly allowed to file under RTI, or is it by inference alone?

Thanks for any specific official directive in this regard...

Till now it is by inference alone.

Complaint on this matter, under Sec 18, is pending with CIC for over a year.

Please see:

http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/1099-c...-2005-a-3.html (Can a PIO or a OIC apply under RTIA 2005 ?)
Complaint to CIC under Sec 18(1)(f) against High Commission of India, London, UK - RTI Directory