The Right to Information Act, 2005
CHAPTER II: RIGHT TO INFORMATION AND OBLIGATIONS OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
Section 6: Request For Obtaining Information
Bare Act
(1) A person, who desires to obtain any information under this Act, shall make a request in writing or through electronic means in English or Hindi or in the official language of the area in which the application is being made, accompanying such fee as may be prescribed, to -
- (a) the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, of the concerned public authority;
- (b) the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be, specifying the particulars of the information sought by him or her:
Provided that where such request cannot be made in writing, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall render all reasonable assistance to the person making the request orally to reduce the same in writing.
(2) 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.
(3) Where an application is made to a public authority requesting for an information, -
- (i) which is held by another public authority; or
- (ii) the subject matter of which is more closely connected with the functions of another public authority,
the public authority, to which such application is made, shall transfer the application or such part of it as may be appropriate to that other public authority and inform the applicant immediately about such transfer:
Provided that the transfer of an application pursuant to this sub-section shall be made as soon as practicable but in no case later than five days from the date of receipt of the application.
Simplified Act
(1) If you want to get information under this law, you should ask for it in writing or through electronic means. You can write in English, Hindi, or the local official language where you're making the request. You'll also need to pay a fee that the government has set. Send your request to either:
- (a) the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer for the relevant government office, or
- (b) the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or the State Assistant Public Information Officer, and make sure to clearly describe what information you need.
Note: If you can't write your request, the officer will help you put your oral request into writing.
(2) When asking for information, you don't have to explain why you want it or give any personal details, except how to contact you.
(3) If you ask a government office for information that another office has, or if your question is more related to another office's work, then:
- (i) the office you asked will pass your request to the right office, and
- (ii) they will let you know right away that they have sent your request to another office.
Remember: They should transfer your request quickly, and no later than five days after they get it.
Explanation using examples
Imagine John, a resident of Delhi, wants to know the status of a road construction project in his locality that has been delayed. To gather this information, John writes a letter in English to the State Public Information Officer (SPIO) of the Delhi Public Works Department (PWD), requesting details about the project's timeline, budget, and reasons for delay. He includes the prescribed fee with his request as per the RTI Act's regulations.
John does not need to provide any reason for seeking this information, nor does he have to share personal details beyond what is necessary for the PWD to respond to him. Upon receiving John's request, if the PWD realizes that the information he seeks is actually held by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the PWD will transfer John's request to the appropriate authority within five days and inform him about this transfer, as mandated by the RTI Act.
