The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 provides rights to people with regard to receiving information from a public authority. The RTI Act came into force on June 15, 2005.
The Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 is Act No. 24 of 2019. It was enacted by Parliament on August 1, 2019. The Act amended the Right to Information Act, 2005.
- The main amendment was to Section 13 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, which sets the term of the central Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners.
- Objectives
- To ensure transparency in public service system Enable citizens of having access to the information by a public authority.
- Time Limit
- A few other salient provisions under the RTI Act include the strict following of time limit for delivering the information.
- Public authorities are entitled to pay response within 30 days of a request, or within 48 hours for matters related to life or liberty.
- Penalties
- There are penalties for failure to provide information on time, or for providing incorrect or incomplete information.
- Appeals
- Citizens can appeal decisions made by Public Information Officers (PIOs) if their requests are denied or not addressed properly.
- Fees
- Applicants below the poverty line (BPL) do not have to pay any fee, but they must submit proof.
- Exemptions
- A PIO can deny providing information if it would:
- Infringe on someone else’s copyright
- Cause disproportionate diversion of resources of the public authority
- Be detrimental to the safety or preservation of records
- A PIO can deny providing information if it would:
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Q. The Right to Information Act is not all about citizens’ empowerment alone, it essentially redefines the concept of accountability.” Discuss. (2018)
