Lok Sabha Question No. 3297 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Information under RTI Act
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA SHETTI

## MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3297

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017)

## INFORMATION UNDER RTI ACT

## †3297. SHRI RAJU SHETTY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the cases wherein the information under the RTI Act has not been provided to applicants;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year  and  the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether  any  official(s)  has/have  been  found  guilty  of  not  providing  information during the said period and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to review the Right to Information Act, 2005; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office. (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a)  &  (b):      No  data  is  centrally  maintained  either  by  Government  or  Central  Information Commission (CIC) in respect of cases wherein the information under RTI Act has not been provided to the applicants.

(c):      CIC  adjudicates the second appeals and complaints received in the Commission. The Right to Information Act, 2005 provides for imposition of penalty by CIC against the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),  in pursuance of section 20 of the RTI Act. As per the information  furnished  by  CIC,  the  amount  of  penalty  imposed  on  such  CPIOs  for  the  last three years is as under:

| Year    | Penalty Imposed   |
|---------|-------------------|
| 2013-14 | 19,25,000         |
| 2014-15 | 7,39,000          |
| 2015-16 | 10,52,500         |

(d) & (e): Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 mandates timely response to citizen's request for information  in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.

Review of the implementation of the provisions of RTI Act is an on-going process. There have been constant efforts on part of the Government to streamline and strengthen the existing mechanisms for successful and effective implementation of the RTI Act.

Government has taken several steps to strengthen the regime of RTI Act, which interalia include the following:

i. RTI  Online  Portal  (https://rtionline.gov.in)  was  launched  in  August,  2013  by  D/o Personnel  and  Training.  As  on  17.03.2017,  1840  Central  Public  Authorities  have  been aligned to it making it convenient for citizens to file RTI requests and First Appeals through on-line.

ii. The Government has conducted training and capacity  building programs  for Public Information Officers and First Appellate Authorities through State Government Training Institutes for effective implementation of the RTI Act.

iii. Ministries/Departments and other Public Authorities are proactively working towards suo-motu disclosure and more information is put on their websites so as to reduce the need for filing RTI applications.

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