CIC verdict on RTI fees

By SUBHASH CHANDRA

Public-authorities spend valuable man-hours and much more postal-expenses to send demand-letter of even rupees two for one page. The petitioner has to spend on postal and bank charges to remit petty amount like rupees two.

IT REFERS to full-bench CIC-verdict clarifying that public-authorities cannot charge more than rupees two per page of copied documents to be supplied in response to RTI petitions. But Union government should make some petty amendments towards RTI fees to make it economical both for public-authorities and RTI petitioners.

Public-authorities spend valuable man-hours and much more postal-expenses to send demand-letter of even rupees two for one page. The petitioner has to spend on postal and bank charges to remit petty amount like rupees two. Rule should be to provide first few pages say five free-of-charge, while full copying charges may be charged if number of pages exceed five meaning thereby that rupees twelve (and not rupees two) may be charged for six pages. System will save money and man-hours both for petitioners and public-authorities.

Public-authorities like Supreme Court spend extra by responding through costly Registered Post, while others like Prime Minister’s Office use unreliable ordinary mail even despite being informed about wrong-delivery of letters. Public-authorities should be directed to use reliable and economical Speed Post only for all destinations covered by Speed Post service.