Army won’t answer online RTI queries

LUCKNOW: Fearful of threats to security, the Indian Army will no longer provide answers to RTI applications received online. The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy, however, maintain they have no problem in providing information sought by citizens in such a manner.

According to army officials, the issue of answering RTI queries filed online came under the scanner recently when a person sought details regarding the army's technical services division through the recently floated website http:///www.rtionline.gov.in. The applicant had sought information from the Union defence ministry, which transferred the query to the army.

"We'll provide information on an RTI application only after receiving a signed copy of the application," said the army's central public information officer.

But the IAF and the navy do not see any threat from online RTI queries.

"As of now, the bulk of RTI queries we receive is either through the Prime Minister's Office or the ministry of defence," said Wing Commander S V R Moorthy, central public information officer, IAF. "Only a minuscule [number] of the RTI applications comes to us online and we've no problem continuing to receive them."

A public information officer of the navy, who refused to be identified, said: "After the introduction of the online system of filing RTI queries, we've witnessed a surge of 300%-400% in the number of applications received. Most of the queries come to us through the defence ministry and only a few applicants reach us online, and we've no problem with it."

While home ministry officials were non-committal when asked whether the online RTI mode will do them more harm than good, external affairs ministry officials said they had no problem. "As far as the online mode of seeking information under the RTI Act is concerned, we've no problem and will continue to provide information in the existing manner to those seeking it, until a new system is put in place," said an official dealing with RTIs in external affairs ministry.

According to RTI experts, the government website http:///www.rtionline.gov.in allows citizens to file RTI applications online. A database of the people making requests is accessible, since payments are made through internet banking (by credit or debit card). This also helps in checking the genuineness of the applicants and in avoiding impersonation.

The website allows applicants to have a password-secured account, where they can see replies and also get them on their email accounts, so no third person receives the information.