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
