State Level RTI: Chandigarh
Law
In May 2005, the national Right to Information Act 2005 was passed by Parliament. The RTI Act 2005 received Presidential assent on 15 June and came fully into force on 12 October 2005. (For more information on the passage of the RTI Act 2005 and implementation at the national level, click here.) The RTI Act 2005 covers all Central, State and local government bodies and applies to the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
The Chandigarh Administration has started implementing the RTI Act 2005. Click here to view the Right to Information Regulation of Fee and Cost Rules 2005 and Right to Information Appeal Rules 2005 notified by the Central Government.
Details of Fee & Costs:
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Application
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Rs.10
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Mode of payment
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Cash against receipt/ demad draft/bankers cheque
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Additional Fees:
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A-4 / A-3 size paper
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Rs 2 per page
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Sample, model
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Actual Cost
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Large size paper
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Actual cost, subject to a minimum of Rs 20 per page
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Floppy or diskette
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Rs 50
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Inspection of records
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No fees for the first hour and a fee of Rs 5 for each 15 minute or a fraction thereof.
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Publication in printed form
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At the price fixed for such publication at Rs 2 per page of photocopy for extracts from the publication.
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Second Appeals and complaints against non-disclosure of information may be filed with the Central Information Commission. Central Information Commission
State Information Commission Contact Details
Chhattisgarh State Information Commission
1st Floor, Indrawati Khand, Shastri Chowk,
Raipur - 492001 (Chhattisgarh), INDIA
Phone : 0771-4024235, 2444151
Fax : 0771 - 2442132,
Email :sic.cg@nic.in
Website : siccg.gov.in
Newsupdates, Activities & Advocacy
- The RTI Act 2005 has received a lukewarm response from Chandigarh's residents. Excepting a few, most U.T. departments have not received a single application. The departments which have started receiving applications include the Estate Office, Excise and Taxation Department, Forest Department, Health Department, Engineering, Advertisement and Department and Municipal Corporation. Experts attribute the low response to a lack of public awareness on the RTI Act 2005 and have stated that the U.T. Administration should hold awareness raising camps. Meanwhile, a number of departments are not yet fully prepared to implement the RTI Act 2005.
- Janata Party's City Chief, Ajay Jagga has said the U.T. Administration is hesitant in implementing the RTI Act in its true spirit. Addressing a press conference, he said the Administration has not done its homework in terms of its implementation in the U.T. He added that the Administration has been very secretive about the RTI Act and has failed to provide the public the information required under it, indicating that they not serious about implementing the RTI Act 2005.
- Day one of the RTI Act 2005 coming into force in Chandigarh saw a poor response from the public. According to officials, the idea was new and it would take time to get into the public mind. Meanwhile, the public feels more needs to be done to popularize the RTI Act through meetings, lectures and demonstrations. Councillors of the local Municipal Corporation amongst others also feel that no proper notices have been put on notice boards of offices clarifying procedures to the public. In a press note, the Chandigarh Administration, has said it has taken all steps for implementing the RTI Act including designating CPIOs, CAPIOs and Appellate Authorities in all departments and the proactive disclosure of information via department notice boards and the administration website.
Resources & Articles
Government
CHRI
- CHRI (2005) Forwarding Information Requests and Appeals: A Step by Step Guide for Assistant Public Information Officers under the Right to Information Act 2005, prepared by Mr Venkatesh Nayak.
- CHRI (2005) Processing Information Requests: A Step by Step Guide for Assistant Public Information Officers under the Right to Information Act 2005, prepared by Mr Venkatesh Nayak.
Miscellaneous
Links