Any information meant to be public comes under the Right To Information Act, and any Indian citizen and PIO have a right to know about it. For that, he has to apply either offline or online to the RTI department. The tedious process of filling applications offline was relieved by making RTI completely online. Now anyone can file RTI application just by logging on the website.
How To File RTI Online
In this article
Perform the steps below to file RTI online
Time needed 2 minutes
1. Log in or File RTI As Guest
Go to www.rtionline.gov.in and login
You can also submit your application as a guest. When you are making an online application, make sure you do not write for public authorities coming under state government and NCR Delhi. Your application will be rejected if you do so, and your money will also be not refunded.
When you click on “Submit Request,” then will appear a box of guidelines that you should read thoroughly and then only click on submit. There might be some cases where you have surpassed some of the guidelines, so checking them will surely help you.
2. Fill The RTI Form
This is a tricky part; you can easily get confused in the department section. Many departments are handling different works. You should be precise about the department or ministry you are writing the application.
Accurately mention your personal details and do not elongate about the information you want to obtain. Just go to the point.
Writing precisely and exact information will help the officer find the information faster and even reply to you faster.
You can even receive SMS alerts on your phone number and email ID.
Queries are to be written in the box provided. Try to maintain it short and precise.
Attach any documents you think might be required.
3. Make The Fees Payment
The RTI requests for a mere fee of 10 Rs per application filled.
Once you click on submit, you are taken to the payment window to pay through 2 forms.
i. Internet Banking
ii. Credit/Debit card
In the subsection of Internet Banking, You only have the option of SBI.
You also might have to pay if you request extracts for documents that may be priced at Rs 2 per page.
4. Submit Your Application
After you complete your payment, you are forwarded to the RTI website, where you need to click on “Submit Your Application.” Save the unique registration number.
Wait for at most 30 days to receive a reply on your application.
If you do not receive any reply from the department or if you are unsatisfied with the reply given, then you can apply for “The first Appeal.” This is free for the first time; the nut may be charged thereon.
Filing To State Government Online
You cannot apply to the bodies working under the state government. You need to follow the offline procedure mentioned above.
Steps To File RTI Offline
Filing an RTI offline is quite harder than doing it online
1. Identify the department or the government organization you want information from
2. Write or print your application in the language most used in your state
3. Write the application addressing to the state/central public information officer. completely mention the name and the address of the department you want information from
4. Completely mention your request, ask detailed questions, the year the event falls into, mention the extract of the document you want.
5. Pay 10 Rs in any form to file an application.
6. Provide your personal details precisely like name, date, signature, address, etc.
7. Take a Xerox copy of the application for future reference
8. Hand over the application to the RTI office or the required department of the government, According to law, the information has to be given within 30 days of application.
What To Do If RTI Is Rejected?
i. RTI request:- It is done by a citizen to the authority(PIO) to provide information. Only the applicant and the PIO is involved here.
ii. RTI appeal: The applicant does it to the senior officer against PIO’s decision, where the senior officer(appellate authority) becomes the third party.
RTI appeal is done when the request of a citizen is declined, or he is unsatisfied with the reply given The citizen, in the case, can make RTI appeal his request gets canceled.
Steps To Fill RTI First Appeal
RTI first appeal is made within 30 days by the citizen in case he is unsatisfied with the reply given or if his request was declined
- Click on “Submit First Appeal,” read the guidelines and click on submit.
- Online RTI first appeal form will appear next; here, you need to fill in your unique registration number, email ID, and security code to proceed further.
- The applicant has to go through dropbox and select the reasons stating the reasons for filing the first appeal
- The text in the textbox should be more than 3000 words, try to get your point clear, and you can even add a document.
- A unique Registration number will be reissued, which has to be used for future references.
If the citizen is unsatisfied with even the first appeal, he can also apply for the second appeal within 90 days.
What Information Can One Seek Under RTI?
RTI act allows any Indian Citizen or PIO to ask appropriate questions from the Government authority.
Some of its examples may include delayed IT refund, document update process, information about your driving license or passport, Update on Ongoing infrastructure work. Knowing the status of FIR, funds used by the government, or any government official. For students, they can ask for their copy of the answer sheet from their particular universities.
What Is RTI?
The Right To Information Act provides the citizen to obtain relevant information from the central and state governments. The pertaining authority has to reply to the applicant within 30 days.
Though the information requested should not be related to national security, defense, or any personal information.
All the government authorities and its branches have to maintain an online record of the information to process it faster.
FAQs
1. In how many days reply will be received for the application?
It is made mandatory by law to reply to the RTI application within 30 days
2. To which authority can I file a request?
Request can be made to any central ministry or department and other public authorities
3. What is the fee for filing for an RTI application?
The RTI application has a mere fee of Rs 10, which can be paid through internet banking or credit/debit card
4. Will I get an SMS from RTI online portal?
If the mobile number is submitted in the form, the applicant can receive an SMS alert
5. Is it mandatory to open a user account to apply?
No, You can also apply directly
6. Can I file an RTI application for state authorities?
No, You can only write application to public authorities under the central government
7. How can I view the status of my application?
You can view the status of your application on the RTI online portal under “view status.”
8. How to upload supporting documents if the alert comes ” Supporting Documents Required From Applicant”?
In such situations, the applicant should go to RTI online portal and click on view status; it may ask for some details. Once the details are entered current application is shown along a link to upload documents
9. Why do I have multiple registration numbers, even if I have applied only once?
This often happens in the case when your application is forwarded to many CPIOs
10. Will I be informed about the additional fee to pay?
A SMS and an e-mail alert will be given to the applicant in such cases. The applicant can make the additional payment by visiting “View Status.”
Final Talk
RTI is one of the most powerful tools in India. It ensures transparency between the government and the common man. RTI has proved its importance in the past by helping solve many cases.
The addition of the online feature in RTI has made it more convenient and usable for everyone. With a small fee of 10Rs, getting information from RTI is just a few clicks away.
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