RTI

The Government of India has enacted "The Right to Information Act 2005" to set out the practical regime of Right to Information (RTI) for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities to promote transparency and accountability in the working of any public authority.

What is right to information?

The RTI provides access to the information which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to inspect work, documents, records, taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents/records and certified samples of the materials and obtaining information which is also stored in electronic form. RTI application can be made online at rtionline.gov.in.

Who can ask for information?

Any citizen can request for information by making an application in writing or through electronic means in English/Hindi /official language of the area in which the application is being made, together with the prescribed fees.

Who will provide information?

Every public authority shall designate a Central Assistant Public Information Officer (CAPIO) at various levels, who will receive the requests for information from the public. The Central Public Information Officers (CPIO) in all administrative units/office will arrange for providing necessary information to the public. The application/request for information must be disposed off either by providing the information or rejecting the request, within a period of 30 days.

EXEMPTION FROM DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION (SECTION 8(1) (J) OF RTI ACT, 2005

This section states that "Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen- information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information officer or State Public Information officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information: Provided that the information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a state Legislature shall not be denied to any person.”

Hence UIDAI disclosure norms states:

As per section 8(I) (j) of RTI Act, 2005 and in view of the confidential nature of demographic and biometric data (personal data of Aadhaar number holder) only the Aadhaar number holder to whom the data relates can seek the information. No other applicant can seek this information. No other applicant will be provided with any personal information related to a third party or any other Aadhaar number holder to protect privacy and maintain confidentiality of Aadhaar number holders enrolled under Aadhaar program. Applicant may also be required to provide additional validation of identity in certain cases.

Aadhaar number holder / individual seeking to enrol seeking details of their enrolments like processing stages, Aadhaar number or dispatch and delivery:

Aadhaar number holder / individual seeking to enrol can obtain status of Aadhaar generation/number/updation from UIDAI Website (https://uidai.gov.in) by furnishing the EID number. The Aadhaar number holder / individual seeking to enrol can also download the electronic version of the Aadhaar letter i.e. E-Aadhaar from the myAadhaar portal (https://myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/) by furnishing the EID/UID number, one-time password (OTP) will be sent to the Aadhaar number holder's / individual's seeking to enrol mobile number registered with Aadhaar, the OTP is required to download E-Aadhaar. The Aadhaar number holder / individual seeking to enrol can also get E-Aadhaar through UIDAI Regional offices after due verification as per procedure by the concerned Regional Offices.

RTI application fees

'RTI application fees under the Act through Cash/Demand Draft/IPO payable to Unique Identification Authority of India'

Additional Information disclosed on own initiative