Central
Information Commission (CIC): While taking note of the difficulties
experienced by the information seekers in depositing the fee and copying
charges and consequential delay in provisioning of information, a
three-member bench headed by Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda
Mishra has issued a series of directions including one to the department
of posts regarding issuance of RTI stamps of Rs. 10 denomination and
opening of separate counters for accepting the applications at its post
offices. CIC was hearing an application filed by Subhash Chandra
Agrawal, who questioned the mechanism of the RTI application fee process
saying that applicants were facing many technical problems which
results not only in harassment but also wastage of time and resources of
the information seekers. After hearing the contentions of the
applicant, CIC admitted that there was immediate need to evolve an
effective mechanism for depositing the fee and copying charges for
expeditious provisioning of information. CIC issued various
recommendations to the Ministries/Departments/Public Authorities
regarding the matter. "The best solution to address the fee-related
problem is to issue RTI stamps of the denomination of Rs 10 by the
Department of Posts. It will be a time saving and cost-effective step,”
CIC added. (Subhash Chandra Agrawal v. Ministry of Home Affairs, [2013]
CIC 13151 decided on August 27, 2013)
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