An RTI application can
be made on a sheet of plain paper and can have any number of questions. It
should be addressed to the public information officer of the department or
organisation concerned. Rs.10/- should be paid as application fee by cash or
through postal order, court fee stamp or demand draft. Questions should be
direct and leave no room for the information officer to give vague replies.
Information officer has to reply within 30 days of receipt of the application,
failing which he is liable to a fine of 250 per day. Appeal can be filed with
the head of the department in which the application was filed, if the
information officer fails to reply within the deadline. Second appeal can be
filed before the central or state information commission if applicant is not
satisfied with the replies.
According to Section
2(f) of the RTI Act, information means any material in any form, including
records, documents, memos, e-mails , press releases, circulars, contracts,
samples, models, data held in any electronic form and information relating to
any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other
law in force.
