Section 13 of RTI Act : Section 13: Terms Of Office And Conditions Of Service

Explanation using Example

Imagine a scenario where Mrs. Gupta, a citizen, files a Right to Information (RTI) request to obtain details on a recent government infrastructure project. The request is forwarded to the relevant Information Commissioner's office for processing. Mr. Kumar, the current Information Commissioner, has been serving in his position for three years. He was appointed at the age of 62, and according to Section 13(2) of the RTI Act, he can serve until he is 65 years old or for a term prescribed by the Central Government, whichever comes first. Since he is now 65, he is due to retire, despite the term prescribed by the Central Government not yet being completed.

Before Mr. Kumar can start his duties as an Information Commissioner, he took an oath of office as described in Section 13(3). If he decides to resign before his term ends or reaches the age limit, he must submit his resignation in writing to the President as per Section 13(4).

During his tenure, Mr. Kumar's salary and terms of service are protected under Section 13(5), meaning they cannot be reduced to his disadvantage after his appointment. This ensures that his compensation remains stable throughout his service.

Moreover, to assist Mr. Kumar in handling RTI requests like the one filed by Mrs. Gupta, the Central Government is required to provide him with the necessary staff and resources as stated in Section 13(6) and Section 13(7), ensuring the efficient performance of his duties under the RTI Act.