Requests Rejected Under RTI, Act 2005

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

30-November-2011 14:16 IST

The RTI Act provides that a request for information may be rejected if it is covered under exemption clauses of Section 8 or Section 9.  Also, information pertaining to a third party is to be provided only after giving third party a notice, who may, in turn, object to providing such information.

The Act has detailed provisions for dealing with cases where the desired information is not provided or cases where information is not supplied within the specified time period. As per section 20 of the Act, Information commissions have been authorized to impose penalty on defaulting public information officers and they may also direct initiation of disciplinary proceedings against such officers.  The Central Information Commission imposed penalty on 48 officials in 2008-09; 154 officials in 2009-10; 273 officials in 2010-2011 and 148 officials as of 26.11.2011. Disciplinary action was taken by public authorities against 9 officials in 2008-09, 33 in 2009-10 and 432 in 2010-11. These include the cases where either the information was not supplied or was supplied with delay.

As per details provided by public authorities to the Central Information Commission (CIC), details regarding requests for information which were received under the RTI Act and requests rejected during last three years are given below: 

@ Figures include public authorities which did not report for some quarters.

No proposal to amend the RTI Act, 2005 is under the consideration of the Government.

This information was given by Shri V. Narayanasamy Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and PMO in written reply to a question in the   Lok Sabha today.

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RS/PKM