Right to Inspection under Right to Information: Tool to get information faster
Right to Information (RTI) Act is a powerful tool in citizens’ hands to get information from public authorities.
For effective use of RTI, one needs to understand what rights do citizens have under the RTI Act.
Section-2(j) of the Act defines the term “Right to Information” which means right to information accessible under this Act which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to:
- inspection of work, documents, records;
- taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records;
- taking certified samples of material;
- obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device.
Careful reading of clause (1) explains that citizens have also the right to visit the public authority and to inspect the required complete record or any document. After carrying out inspection, applicant may choose the particular documents out of complete record, of which he/she requires the physical copy. Applicant can easily obtain the documented information from public authority on payment of prescribed cost i.e. Rs. 2 per page. This move can save precious cost and time of the applicant seeking information.
Mostly, citizens understand RTI as a time consuming and costly affair as applicant may be asked to pay cost in thousands of rupees for chunk of pages, when applicant needs only few pages.
Use RTI to strengthen democracy.
We will be happy to assist you in seeking information. You may schedule your appointment today.