Deccan Herald
To make it easy for NRIs to file RTI applications,
the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has asked
government departments to provide a link on their websites
for receiving online applications and appeals.
The ministry has written to Department of Personnel and Training,
The ministry has written to Department of Personnel and Training,
nodal department for RTI affairs and Ministry of External Affairs to
make guidelines in this regard and make necessary changes in the Act.
Its website has a link facilitating reception of online applications.
According to the proposal mooted by the ministry,
According to the proposal mooted by the ministry,
an NRI will now be able to deposit Rs 10 as RTI fee in
the equivalent local currency at the Indian Mission abroad
and send their application through email to the concerned
public information officer informing about deposit of fee.
"NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) are entitled to seek information
"NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) are entitled to seek information
from Ministries/Departments of Government of India/States
under the RTI Act.
In the absence of appropriate arrangement
In the absence of appropriate arrangement
of deposit of requisite fee, they are finding it difficult to seek information,"
G Gurucharan, Joint Secretary at the
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs wrote to DoPT.
It was a difficult task for the NRIs to file RTI applications
It was a difficult task for the NRIs to file RTI applications
seeking information, as there is no mechanism for online
applications. The deposit of fee was also a difficult matter
as there is no provision in the Act for submitting it in the
currency of any othercountry.
Now, NRIs submit their RTI applications at Indian missions
Now, NRIs submit their RTI applications at Indian missions
abroad which forward it to officials concerned but fee was
accepted only in Indian currency. The fee can be paid either
in cash or in valid instruments like postal order, demand draft etc.
It was difficult for NRIs to arrange such instrument abroad
It was difficult for NRIs to arrange such instrument abroad
leaving them no option but to physically go to the Indian
mission and submit fee in cash along with application.
An RTI applicant Commodore Lokesh Batra made a
complaint before the Central Information Commission highlighting the plight of NRIs.
Batra had also raised the issue during the annual
Batra had also raised the issue during the annual
convention convened by the Commission in October
last year, which elicited positive reaction from activists
and commissioners. After getting complaint from Batra
, the Commission had sought views of the Ministry of
Overseas Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs.
The Ministry of Overseas Affairs in its submission said,
The Ministry of Overseas Affairs in its submission said,
"payment of fee for seeking information has to be decided
by the Ministry of External Affairs...As regards first and
second appeal from abroad, matter has been taken up
with the Department of Personnel and Training".
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