The Right to Information Act 2005 (RTI) is an Act of the Parliament of India, passed by the Central Government , in favour of the people of India. It implements freedom of information legislation in India on a national level "to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens." The Act applies to all States and Union Territories of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Under the provisions of the Act, any citizen may request information from a "public authority" (a body of Government or "instrumentality of State") which is required to reply expeditiously or within thirty days. The Act also requires every public authority to computerize their records for wide dissemination and to proactively publish certain categories of information so that the citizens need minimum recourse to request for information formally. This law was passed by Parliament on 15 June 2005 and came fully into force on 13 October 2005 . Information disclosure in India was hitherto restricted by the Official Secrets Act 1923 and various other special laws, which the new RTI Act now relaxes. As far as the act is concerned, there is no hidden risk involved. Citizens are free to know from the Government authorities about any matter they wish to know.

Procedure For Obtaining Information.

The information request shall be made in writing. The information request can be in one of the following three languages.

• Telugu
• Hindi
• English

Applicant shall pay the following prescribed fee for obtaining the information under the Act. A request for obtaining information under sub-section (1) of section 6 shall be accompanied by an application fee of Rs.10/- per each application by way of cash or by demand draft or by banker's cheque payable to the Accounts Officer or any other duly authorized officer of the Public Authority, against proper receipt at the following rates: Fee to be charged for providing information:

For providing information under sub-section (1) or sub-section (5) of Section 7, a fee shall be charged by way of cash or demand draft or banker's cheque payable to the Accounts Officer or any other duly authorized officer of the Public Authority against proper receipt at the following rates:

(A)Priced Material:

Publications printed matter, text, maps, plans, floppies, CDs, samples, models or material in any other form, which are priced, the sale price thereof: Page 3 of 21

(B) Other than price material:

• I. Material in printed or text form (in A4 or A3 size paper) Rs.2/- per each page per copy.
• II. Material in printed or text form in larger than A4 or A3 size paper - actual cost.
• III. Maps and plans - actual cost.
• IV. Information in Electronic format viz., floppy, CD or DVD:
• a. Rs.100/- for CD of 700 MB and
• b. Rs.200/- for DVD.
• V. Samples and models - actual cost thereof.
• VI. Inspection of records - no fee for the first hour and a fee of Rs.5/- for each fifteen minutes (or fraction thereof) there after.
• VII. Material to be sent by post - the actual postal charges in addition to the charge payable as per these rules.

Applicants belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category need not pay the fee. They will pay for material charges. For the issues claiming payment of exemption of fee under BPL category, the applicant shall attach a copy of Ration card/income certificate or any other proof under the BPL category. The request for information will be generally processed within the time period mentioned under the Act.

Public Information Officers :

1) First Appellate Authority : Smt. D.VijayaBharathi, JD

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