Continuing insistence on format inconveniences RTI applicants

New Delhi, Oct 10 (UNI) The insistence of government departments on receiving request for information under RTI on a prescribed format only is a continuing source of irritation and inconvenience to applicants.

This has once again been proved with a fresh case involving the Delhi Development Authority that came to the Information Commission.

Mr Ajit Gupta of Rajouri Garden here had applied to the Director (DWK), DDA Office, Mangolpuri for some information. He was made to visit the office several times for making his application accepted by the PIO who insisted that his aplications were not in the right format.

On an appeal of Mr Gupta, the Chief Election Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah has ruled that under section 5(3) of the Right to Information Act, it was incumbent upon the PIO to render reasonable assistance to persons seeking information.

A similar situation was faced by an applicant while dealing with the DDA in January this year. In that case titled 'Madhu Bhandari vs DDA', the CIC had said: ''In the RTI Act, no Department is proscribed from designing an application form that facilitates identification and therefore ease of access to information sought. It cannot be treated as a substitute for a simple application as laid down in Sec 6 (1).

Since a standard application cannot be mandated, it is not covered by prescription of Rules but is to be treated simply as an easing of processes. Its absence cannot be grounds for rejection of an application.''.

More recently, an eminent city lawyer was refused information by the Ministries of Environment and Forests and Food Processing on a similar plea following which the Commission has directed them accept applications without causing any inconvenience to information seekers.

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