Information you can seek

Here's a list of areas where citizens can access the facts they require

Here's a list of areas where citizens can access the facts they require

Thirty-sixu00a0years ago, the Supreme Court in the Bennett Coleman vs Union of India case ruled that the right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution of India includes the right to information.

This fundamental right of citizens got operationalised in 2005 and the Right To Information (RTI) Act received the assent of the President of India on 15 June, 2005. The Act came into operation on 12 October, 2005.

The Act promises that the decision of the Information Commission (IC) shall be binding and no court shall entertain any suit, application or other proceeding in respect of any order made under the RTI Act. Thus, the Orders of IC acquire much value and weight.

Every month I write an article published in the Journal of Bombay Chartered Accountants' Society. Any reader of this supplement who desires a soft copy of it may send his name & email id to narayanvarma2011@gmail.com

Free RTI clinics and centersu00a0
Public concern for Governance Trust (PCGT):
Tel: 23526426/ 9322882288
Email: publicconcern@gmail.com, Visit us at www.pcgt.org

National - RTI help lines
Mumbai PCGT: 09322882288
Chandigarth:09872692400
Delhi: 09999212148/ Kabir 09718100180
Haryana: 09896040307
Gujarat: 09924085000
Karnataka: 09886020774/ 094487-04593
Orissa: 1800-345-6777
Tamil Nadu: 097898-19014
West Bengal: 094336-20192
NCPRI RTI Helpline: 09250400100,
Lucknow: 09235169855

Tarun Mitra Mandal centers at
Thane: 098205 35271
Fort: 09819334623/ 09322270896
Chinchpokali: 09223365142/ 09322380605u00a0
Dadar(W): 09869429543/ 09819481666
Matunga(C.R.): 0982116565/09323524988
Andheri: 26789773 / 26789899/ 69532298
Ghatkopar: 09221046686/ 09867313221
Borivali: 09869876951 /09322266593

Significant decisions of the Info Commission
>>A Deemed University is a Public Authority and covered under the RTI Act.
>>Income-tax returns of political parties filed with public authorities and assessment orders accessible to the citizens.
>>Complete text of the 'question paper', provided by the university to examinees, along with standard answer key adopted by the university is accessible.
>>An examinee has the right to access the evaluated answer sheets so as to make self assessment of her/his performance.
>>The Supreme Court of India is an institution created by the Constitution and is, therefore, a Public Authority within the meaning of S 2(h) RTI Act. The status and position of the Chief Justice of India is unique under the RTI Act. The Chief Justice of India is also designated as 'Competent Authority' u/s. 2(e) of the Right to Information Act.
>>The Commission disapproves of the practice of PIOs using the exemptions of S.8(1) without providing reasoning. The Commission is likely to view such practice as a denial of information without reasonable cause and take action.
>>All co-operative societies registered under the Gujarat State Co-operative Societies Act, 1961 are bodies controlled falling within the ambit of the definition 'public authority' given at 2(h) (d) (i) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 and, therefore, are public authorities.
(Decision of the Gujarat Information Commission, the same view is taken by the HC of Kerala)
>>All the aided and unaided schools perform governmental functions to promote high quality of relevant education. The Government access to information asked for. And, so has a citizen.