Government to extend 'online' RTI facility to all central depts

NEW DELHI: Soon RTI applicants can seek information related to all central ministries or departments here through a web portal.

The Department of Personnel and Training, which acts as nodal ministry for the implementation of Right to Information Act, has launched -- www.rtionline.gov.in -- to facilitate e-filing of applications and payment of fees.

"This portal, developed by NIC, is a facility for Indian citizens to online file RTI applications and first appeals and also to make online payment of RTI fees.

"The prescribed fees can be paid through Internet banking of State Bank of India and its associate banks as well as by credit or debit cards of Visa or Master, through the payment gateway of SBI linked to this site," the DoPT said in an official order.

At present, people can file online applications and appeals for information related to the DoPT only.

"It is planned to extend this facility to all the Ministries or Departments of Government of India within a month," the order issued yesterday said.

The Centre's flagship Right to Information Act, which was enacted in 2005, mandates timely response (within 30 days) to citizen requests for government information. One has to pay a fee of Rs 10 for seeking information.

The facility, however, will not be extended for field offices, attached or subordinate offices, it said.

The DoPT will also train officials to facilitate easy processing of citizens requests through the transparency law.

At present, the text of an application that can be uploaded at the prescribed column (on the website while filing application) is limited to 500 words only.

In case, an application contains more than 500 words, then it can be uploaded as an attachment.