RTI from Indians Living Abroad

The Government has received representations from Indians living abroad that they had been finding it difficult to use RTI Act effectively as Government had not made specific rules to pay the mandatory fee of Rs. 10.

The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee & Cost) Rules, 2005 provides that a request for obtaining information should be accompanied by an application fee of rupees ten by way of cash against proper receipt or by demand draft or bankers cheque or Indian Postal Order payable to the Accounts Officer of the public authority. In the light of difficulty in making payment of RTI fee in foreign currency, Indians living abroad are finding it difficult to file RTI applications. Total number of RTI applications from Indians living abroad pending with Government is not centrally maintained. 

In order to facilitate filing of RTI applications in Central Government public authorities by Indians living abroad, the Central Government has ‘in-principle’ agreed to start sale of Indian Postal Orders through internet on payment in foreign currency. 

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

Source:- PIB