Handbook on Right to Information Act, 2005

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Description
Freedom of Information, a phrase coined in the United States, is a very different notion from the freedom of speech, freedom of press or freedom of expression. It empowers the common man to obtain information in possession of the State. The Right to Information Act, 2005 is a very powerful tool, given in the hands of Indian citizens. It provides them a chance to transform the way the government and its officials function. Asking the government for information, one asks for the government to be transparent and accountable to its citizens.
The people's struggle compelled the Indian Parliament to finally enact the Right to Information Act, 2005, which ultimately came into effect from 12th October, 2005 in all the States of India except the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
The present volume, now in its fourth edition, in simple but interesting language, deals with all the aspects of this Act with real life stories. It contains an exhaustive commentary on all the sections of the Act with appropriate comments and deficiencies at appropriate places. The author has made all efforts to consolidate all laws relating to right to information and present in a lucid language, in a coherent manner and logical sequence. It also contains specimen forms that can be used for not only moving first application under the Act to seek information but also specimen application forms for moving first and second appeal too.
This publication attempts to focus on the practical aspects of its implementation and throws light on certain grey areas of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
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Contents
Division 1 : The Right to Information ACT, 2005
Chapter I : Preliminary
1.    Short title, extent and commencement
2.    Definitions
Chapter II : Right to Information and Obligations of Public Authorities
3.    Right to Information
4.    Obligations of public authorities
5.    Designation of Public Information Officers
6.    Request for obtaining information
7.    Disposal of request
8.    Exemption from disclosure of information
9.    Grounds for rejection to access in certain cases
10.  Severability
11.  Third-party information
Chapter III : The Central Information Commission
12.  Constitutuion of Central Information Commission
13.  Term ofoffice and conditions of service
14.  Removal of Chief Information Commissioner of Information Commissioner
Chapter IV : The State Information Commission
15.  Constitution of State Information Commission
16.  Term of office and conditions of service
17.  Removal of State Chief Information Commissioner or State Information Commissioner
Chapter V : Powers and functions of the Information Commissions, Appeal and Penalties
18.  Powers and functions of Information Commissions
19.  Appeal
20.  Penalties
Chapter VI : Miscellaneous
21.  Protection of action taken in good faith
22.  Act to have overriding effect
23.  Bar of jurisdiction of courts
24.  Act not to apply to certain organisations
25.  Monitoring and reporting
26.  Appropriate Government to prepare programmes
27.  Power to make rules by appropriate Government
28.  Power to make rules by competent authority
29.  Laying of rules
30.  Powert to remove difficulties
31.  Repeal
Division II : Rules
Right to Information (Term of Office, Salaries, Allowances and Other Terms and Conditions of Service of Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission, State Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioners in the State Information Commission) Rules, 2019.
Lok Sabha Secretariat Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005
Rajya Sabha Secretariat Right tio Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005
Division : III Miscellaneous
1. Information to be Published (Made Public) by Public Authorities
2. List of Important Web-Sites
3. List of State Information Commission Web-Sites
4. List of NGOs on RTI Web-Sites
5. List of Important Volunteers/NGOs Helping RTI Movement  
6. RTI Activists/Volunteers/Contacts helping RTI movement in Uttar Pradesh
7. List of RTI Activists all across the country                                                                           
8. RTI Application Fee by State Governments                                                                         
9. RTI Appellants: Know your Rights                                                                                         
10. RTI Act in Nutshell                                                                                                                    
11. How to Get Information of Private Entity?                                                                          
DIVISION : IV Speciman Forms
1. Specimen Form of Application for Obtaining Information                                              
2. Specimen Form A: Application for Obtaining Information under Right of Information Act, 2005, section 6       
3. Specimen Form of Acknowledgement of Application
4. Specimen Form of Intimation for Payment of Fee for Information
5. Specimen Form of Providing Information
6. Specimen Form of for Intimation of Rejection of Application for Providing Information
7. Specimen Form of Application if Wrong Document/s is/are Provided
8. Specimen Form of Application if Wrong Information is Provided
9. Specimen form of Application for Obtaining Supplementary Information/s
10. Specimen Form of Appeal
11. Specimen Form of Acknowledgement of Appeal
12. Specimen Form of First Appeal
13. Specimen Form of First Appeal
14. Specimen Form of First Appeal
15. Specimen Form of First Appeal
16. Specimen Form of First Appeal
17. Specimen Complaint to be filed with CIC/SIC, and Operative Guidelines for Filing Non-compliance of Orders of Information Commissions                                                                                                                       
DIVISION : V Some Sample Questions on RTI
1. Right to Information                                                                                                               
2. Have you ever thought?                                                                                                          
3. How do we hold the government accountable?                                                                  
4. Do not Pay Bribes?                                                                                                                   
5. Using RTI is simple                                                                                                                   
6. Understanding and Using RTI                                                                                                
7. What is information                                                                                                                  
8. Coverage and applicability                                                                                                     
9. Obligations of public authorities                                                                                             
10. Public Information Officers (PIOs)                                                                                        
11. Applying for information                                                                                                         
12. How does a "PIO" deal with your application                                      
13. Fees                                                                                                                                              
14. Time Limits
15. Third Party
16. Information which cannot be disclosed
17. Exemptions
18. Appeals
19. Central and State Information Commissions
20. Some more shortcomings
21. Important Guidelines22. Remember Basic Principles
23. Trick in Asking Questions
24. Some common problems and sample questions
(1) Sanitation
(2) Garbage bin not being cleaned
(3) Social audit
(4) Do you have a broken road?

(5) Public distribution system
(6) MLA/MPLAD/MLC Funds
(7) Misuse of cars
(8) Monitoring vigilance
(9) Grievance redressal machinery
(10) Inspecting government work-hit corruption at the root
(11) Taking hisuuh (Accounts) from the Government
(12) How does Government Handle Corruption Cases
(13) Status of all corruption complaints received
(14) How to get effective sanitation services in your area
(15) Encroachments
(16) Not getting passport
(17) Take copies of ration documents
(18) Water problem
(19) Street lights not functioning
(20) Horticulture
(21) Details of all roads which are cut
(22) Details of "street and road works" carried out
(23) Seeking records about water management
(24) Copies of all works carried out in a ward
(25) Commercialization
(26) Pending work in any government department
(27) Gas cylinder delivery
(28) Inspect government works
(29) Maintenance of public parks
(30) Regular sweeping of your locality