Salient Features of the RU Act, 2005

1 RTI Act 2005 empowers every citizen to: .

Ask any Questions from the Government or seek any information .

• Take Copies of any government documents
• Inspect any government documents.
• Inspect any Government works .
• Take samples of materials of any Government work.

2. You can seek information from any department of the central or state government, from panchayati raj institutions, and from any other organization or institution (including NGQs) that is established. constituted. owned. controlled or substantially financed. directly or indirectly, by the state or central government (section 2(a) & (h)).

3. In each department, at least one officer has been designated as a public information officer (Pbs). He/She accepts the request forms and provides information sought by the people (section 5(1)).

4. In addition, in each sub-district/divisional level there are assistant public information officers (APIOs) who receive requests for information and appeals against decisions of the public information officers, and then send them to the appropriate authorities (section 5(2)).

5. Any person seeking information should tile an application in writing or through electronic means in English or Hindi (or in the official language of the area) along with the application fees with the PlO/APIO (section 6(1)).

6 Where a request cannot be made in writing, the PlO is supposed to render all reasonable assistance to the person making the request orally