Calling of RTI Applicant for inspection

[sivak64]

One applicant has filed RTI application with public sector covered under RTI act. Instead of furnishing the information, the PA has requested to visit the office for inspection of documents. The point here is that the applicant has filed his application from his native, which is 300 Km away from the Public Authority. The PA wants to drag the issue. Please advise.

[Majji J S Murthy]

Sponsorer

It has become a very common practice to some public authorities to ask the applicant to come to their office for taking the information knowing fully well it incurs heavy expenditure on the information seeker. It is also noticed that the work that can be completed in one day is purposely dragged to many days resulting in the RTI information seeker to incur heavy expenditure and time. This is one way adopted by the information giver to avoid furnishing information. It is also sadly noticed that the CIC despite in the know of the unethical way the information giver is playing with information seeker is maintaining a deadly silence on this burning issue. The matter should be taken up with CIC and the concerned ministry for such illegal methods adopted by some organisations.

[Yogi M. P. Singh]

Hon'ble members. Under R.T.I. Act 2005, whatever information is sought, this is obligatory duty of PIO to made available sought information as such. When information seeker is seeking information in the form of document, then PIO can not compel information seeker to inspect the documents concern. This can be considered as the malafied denial of information when the matter will be broughtup before the commission.

[karira]

The PIO cannot force the applicant for inspection, instead of supplying copies / CD etc...
Let him file first appeal and pay that the information must be supplied to him in the form that he has sought.

[sharmajee]

I agree with Karira.

One can also consider sending reply to PIO as following in such cases:
I had specifically sought documents / information not inspection of records. Therefore kindly act lawfully as you are obliged by RTI Act to provide available information. However if you still want to insist and invite me for inspection, please confirm that you will bear all the expenses of my travel to your office by car and related ancillary expenses incurred by me on this visit. After hearing from you suitably, I may decide about visit for inspection of records at your request and expenses.

SIC, Rajasthan, normally decides in favour of appellant and directs PIOs to provide information in such cases as PIO cannot insist for inspection on his will.