Feedback required on RTI Rules Amendment

[karira]

Members are aware that some States and Legislative Assemblies like:

Bihar
Karnataka
Maharashtra
Chatisgarh Legislative Assembly

have amended the RTI Rules by:

- hiking application fee and further fees (Sec 7(5))
- restricting subject matter to one subject
- restricting applications to 150 words
etc.


Mr Shailesh Gandhi, Info Commissioner in the CIC wants to know about the impact of these amendments from those who are based in these States or have filed RTI applications in these states.

Are applicants aware about these amendments ?
Are RTI Activists aware about these amendments ?
Are PIOs and FAAs aware about these amendments ?
Have any RTI applications been rejected/refused because of these amendments ?
Which departments are strictly implementing these amendments ?
etc
etc
etc


Please post your experiences and comments in this thread only.

[Yogi M. P. Singh]

Sponsorer

Hon'ble members. First thanks to Mr. Shailesh Gandhi Ji for experiencing the problem faced by common citizen of india due to arbitrary rule making of appropriate governments and competent authorities. Thanks to Karira Sir, acting like watch dog in respect of implementation of transparency act. It is well known fact that whoever made the rule regarding the processing of RTI communique, tried to weaken the provisions of RTI Act 2005. Every one knows it well that corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and judicial members are hatcing conspiracy to blunt the edge of RTI weapon. It is obvious that the these black sheep do not like transparency and accountability in its function so they treat the transparency act like foe.

[vinayakj]

Maharashtra

Are applicants aware about these amendments ? YES/NO ( not all )
Are RTI Activists aware about these amendments ? YES
Are PIOs and FAAs aware about these amendments ? Can't Say
Have any RTI applications been rejected/refused because of these amendments ? Not yet
Which departments are strictly implementing these amendments ? --------

When MRTI ( Maharashtra RTI ) was in force 3 questions were allowed to be asked ( but this was period hardly people knew of RTI ) so phase went with few difficulties ( even PA were not aware or pretending to be not aware about mrti )

then came in RTI 2005 with this in force MRTI became repelled
now with 150 words and one subject seems to bring in some difficulties

From applicant point of view

Lay man will hardly know for first six months about this amendments ( so most of apps will be nullified )
Cost of information ( initial application ) will rise on account stamps ipo dd etc
Printing cost for applicant will rise along with paper ( cutting of trees ) ( railways allowed eticket on mobile )
applicant to be vigilant on 150 words ( now on every one has to count 150 words )( some drafting tools give ready made info on this)
Single subject is the most difficult thing in this amendment ( this will again give rise to multiple apps / printing/fees / paper )
and above all tracking of RTI application and replies received will be another thing to look diligently for.
( example : one subject if I have to file some 5 applications on ONE date ( 02-05-2012 ) pio will reply siting date, initially there will be lot of confusion
What the applicant has to now do is to name-reference there applications along with date.

From PA point of view
Govt revenue will rise
PA will at first try to nulify application based on one subject or 150 words ( every pio will work more harder to count 150 words )
then segregate on ONE subject - and only then pio will interpret queris contain in application
more paper work for PA's
this amendemtn may have double effect ( one group will will disuade from filing application / another group of people will file too many applications )
End result may be fewer application ( maharasthra wise ) pio's will reply