TIOL-DDT 162 · the untouched capture
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<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#663399" size="3">TIOL-DDT
162</font><font color="#663399"><br>
</font></b></font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>21
07 2005<br>
</b></font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Thursday</b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#006633"><b>THE
RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005</b></font></font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The
Law is here – Ready but are we ready to implement it? Unlike in many other
laws the Government here has no choice. The Provisions of the Act do <b>not</b>
come into force from a date to be notified by the Government. The Government
has no such luxury under this Act. Notably, the new law contains a provision
which explicitly states that the Act will come into force on the 120<sup>th</sup>
day of enactment. And some provisions come into force immediately; no they already
came into force on the 15<sup>th</sup> June 2005. The whole Act will come into
force from 12<sup>th</sup> October 2005. The Act wills it. In real terms, implementation
poses a huge challenge to the government.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Every
Public Authority is immediately required to,</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font color="#0000FF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> maintain
all its records duly catalogued and indexed in a manner and the form which facilitates
the right to information under this Act and ensure
that all records that are appropriate to be computerised are, within a reasonable
time and subject to availability of resources, computerised
and connected through a network all over the country on different systems so
that access to such records is facilitated;</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The
Act covers all public authorities. These have been broadly defined to include
any body established or constituted by a law of the Central or State Governments.
Public authorities also include any body owned, controlled or substantially
financed by a Government and any non-Government organisation substantially financed,
directly or indirectly by funds provided by a Government. </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The
Act confers a right to "<b>information</b>" rather than just "records"
or "documents". Information has broadly been defined to permit the
inspection of public works including taking samples of materials. The definition
also includes "information relating to a private body which can be accessed
by a public authority under any law. This is an interesting provision for disclosure
by private bodies because it is designed to keep the onus on the Government
to collect information from private bodies, rather than requiring the public
to chase private bodies themselves.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Proactive
Disclosure </b></font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The
list of information to be proactively published by public authorities is very
broad </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(1) The
particulars of its organisation, functions and duties;</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(2) The
powers and duties of its officers and employees;</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(3) The
procedure followed in its decision making process, including channels of supervision
and accountability;</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(4) The
norms set out by it for the discharge of its functions;</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(5) Information
regarding the rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records used by
its employees for the discharge of its functions,</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(6) A
statement of the categories of the documents held by it or under its control;</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(7) Information
regarding any arrangement that exists for consultation or representation, by
members of the public, in relation to the formulation of policy or implementation;</font></p>
<p align="justify"> <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(8) Advice
given by the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two
or more persons. Additionally information as to whether the meetings of these
are open to the public, or the minutes. of such meetings are accessible to the
public;</font></p>
<p align="justify"> <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(9) A
directory of its officers and employees;</font></p>
<p align="justify"> <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(10) The
monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including
the system of compensation as provided in its regulations;</font></p>
<p align="justify"> <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(11) The
budget allocated to each of its agencies, indicating the particulars of all
plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made;</font></p>
<p align="justify"> <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(12) The
details of the implementation of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated
and the details and beneficiaries of such programmes;</font></p>
<p align="justify"> <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(13) Particulars
of recipients of concessions, permits or authorisations granted by it;</font></p>
<p align="justify"> <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(14) Details
of the information available to, or held by it, reduced in an electronic form;</font></p>
<p align="justify"> <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(15) The
particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including
the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use;</font></p>
<p align="justify"> <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(16) The
names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Information
without even asking:<br>
<br>
</b></font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Act
explicitly states that it "shall be a constant endeavour to provide as
much information <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>suo motu s</i>o that
the public have minimum resort to the Act to get information.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Exemptions:
</b></font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Unfortunately,
some exemptions are very broad, with entire agencies exempt from disclosure
and a very broad exemption for Cabinet papers and other internal deliberation
documents. Notably, however, all of the exemptions are still subject to a public
interest override, whereby information may be disclosed <b>"if public interest
in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests".</b></font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">There
is no obligation to give the following information.</font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<div align="justify">
<table width="450" border=0 align="center" cellpadding=0>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign=top > <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(a)</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">information,
disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity
of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests
of the State, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an
offence;</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 1'>
<td width="9%" valign=top > <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(b)</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">information
which has been expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law
or tribunal or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court;</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 2'>
<td width="9%" valign=top > <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(c)</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">information,
the disclosure of which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament
or the State Legislature;</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 3'>
<td width="9%" valign=top > <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(d)</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">information
including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property,
the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third
party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public
interest warrants the disclosure of such information;</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 4'>
<td width="9%" valign=top > <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> (e)</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
information available to a person in his fiduciary relationship, unless
the competent authority is satisfied that the larger public interest
warrants the disclosure of such information; </font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 5'>
<td width="9%" valign=top > <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(f) </font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">information
received in confidence from foreign Government;</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 6'>
<td width="9%" valign=top > <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(g)</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">information,
the disclosure of which would endanger the life or physical safety of
any person or identify the source of information or assistance given
in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes;</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 7'>
<td width="9%" valign=top > <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(h)</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">information
which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution
of offenders;</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 8'>
<td width="9%" valign=top > <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(i)</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">cabinet
papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers,
Secretaries and other officers:</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 9'>
<td width="9%" valign=top > <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Provided
that the decisions of Council of Ministers, the reasons thereof, and
the material on the basis of which the decisions were taken shall be
made public after the decision has been taken, and the matter is complete,
or over: </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Provided
further that those matters which come under the exemptions specified
in this section shall not be disclosed; </font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign=top > <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(j)</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">information
which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no
relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause
unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central
Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or
the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger
public interest justifies the disclosure of such information:</font></p></td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Citizens
are supreme:</b></font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The
Act provides that <b>the information which cannot be denied to the Parliament
or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person.</b></font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b> </b></font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>The
following agencies are exempted from the provisions of the Act.</b></font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b> </b></font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<div align="justify">
<table width="450" border=0 align="center" cellpadding=0>
<tr>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">1.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Intelligence
Bureau.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 1'>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">2.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Research
and Analysis Wing of the Cabinet Secretariat.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 2'>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">3.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Directorate
of Revenue Intelligence.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 3'>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">4.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Central
Economic Intelligence Bureau.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 4'>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Directorate
of Enforcement.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 5'>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">6.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Narcotics
Control Bureau.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 6'>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">7.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Aviation
Research Centre.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 7'>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">8. </font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Special
Frontier Force.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 8'>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">9. </font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Border
Security Force.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 9'>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">10.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Central
Reserve Police Force.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 10'>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">11.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Indo-Tibetan
Border Police.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 11'>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">12.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Central
Industrial Security Force.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 12'>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">13.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">National
Security Guards.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr 13'>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">14.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Assam</st1:country-region> Rifles.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">15.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Special
Service Bureau.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">16.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Special
Branch (CID), Andaman and Nicobar.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">17.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The
Crime Branch-C.I.D.- CB, Dadra and Nagar Haveli.</font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="10%" valign=top > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">18.</font></p></td>
<td width="88%" > <p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Special
Branch, Lakshadweep Police.</font></p></td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">It
may be noted that while our very famous DRI is in the exempted list, the poor
cousin DGCEI, does not figure and the most notable absentee in the list is the
dreaded <b>CBI</b>.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>How
to apply</b></font></p>
<ol>
<li><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Apply in writing
or through electronic means in English or Hindi or in the official language
of the area, to the PIO, specifying the particulars of the information sought
for. </font></li>
<li>
<div align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Reasons
for seeking information are not required to be given; </font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pay
fees as may be prescribed (if not belonging to the below poverty line category).
</font></div>
</li>
<li>
<div align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Failure
to provide information within the specified period is a deemed refusal.
</font></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Penalties;
There is a penalty for contraventions of the Act and who can contravene?
Only the government officers! </b> Every PIO (or an officer from whom the
PIO requested assistance) can be penalised Rs 250 per day up to a maximum
of Rs 25,000 for not accepting an application; delaying information release
without reasonable cause; denying information in bad faith; knowingly giving
incomplete, incorrect, misleading information; destroying information that
has been requested or obstructing furnishing of information in any manner.
The final form of the Act removed references to imprisonment for serious
acts of non-compliance with the Act. Disciplinary action under the relevant
service rules may be initiated against officials for persistent violation
of this Act. <b>And the burden of proof is on the accused officer.</b></font></div>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>
<a href="http://www.taxindiaonline.com/RC2/pdfdocs/rtiact.pdf">(See full text
of the Act in 'What's New')</a></b></font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Are
we in for a major change? </b></font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">One
of our reporters called up a Chief Commissioner’s office to find out the
location of a help centre. After half a dozen calls he could get through to
a very responsible and responsive officer who advised him, “Don’t
go the help centres; they are not useful, you go and meet the Assistant Commissioner
“</font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I
swear the above incident is true and happened yesterday.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#FF0000">Until
Tomorrow with more DDT<br>
</font></b></font><font color="#FF0000" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Have
a nice day.<br>
</b></font><font color="#FF0000" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Mail
your comments to</b></font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>
<a
href="mailto:vijaywrite@taxindiaonline.com">vijaywrite@taxindiaonline.com</a></b></font></p>
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