PERSONAL INFORMATION UNDER RTI

PERSONAL INFORMATION UNDER RTI

Subject : National Legislations

Context : The court had on January 12 observed that the disclosure of interest regarding information being sought under RTI law would be necessary to establish the bonafides of an applicant.

Concept :

• The Delhi High Court Friday clarified its recent observation regarding the necessity for disclosure of interest by an applicant about the information being sought under the RTI Act, and said that it only pertained to the seeking of personal information under the law.
• The order had come under criticism, with many pointing out that it contradicts the Section 6(2) of the RTI Act .
• It states that “an applicant making request for information shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any other personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting him”.

Other Important sections under RTI Law

• Section- 2(j): “Right to Information” means the 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.

• Section 4:It requires Suomotu disclosure of information by each public authority. However, such disclosures have remained less than satisfactory.
• Section 8 (1) mentions exemptions against furnishing information under RTI Act.
• Section 8 (2) provides for disclosure of information exempted under Official Secrets Act, 1923 if larger public interest is served.
• Section 8(1)(j):“The information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person” under the RTI Act.