State Level RTI : Punjab

What We do

State Level RTI : Punjab

Law

In May 2005, the national Right to Information Act 2005 was passed by Parliament. The RTI Act 2005 received Presidential assent on 15 June and came fully into force on 12 October 2005. (For more information on the passage of the RTI Act 2005 and implementation at the national level, click here.) The RTI Act 2005 covers all Central, State and local government bodies and applies to the State Government of Punjab.

The Punjab Government has started implementing the RTI Act 2005. The Government has issued the Punjab Right to Information Rules 2005. The Government made some changes in the Punjab Right to Information Rules 2005 after receiving representations from different quarters for reducing the rates of fees to be charged issued a Clarification for depositing and reducing of fees with reference to Punjab Right to Information Rules 2005.

For a list of Public Information Officers and Appellate Authorities designated by the State Government, click here.

Details of Fee & Costs

Application

Rs 10

Mode of payment

Cash /bank draft/cheque/treasury challan/Indian postal order.

Additional Fees:

  

A-4 / A-3 paper

Rs 2 per page

Publication and printed form

Printed fixed price, photocopies/extracts at Rs 2 per page

Large size paper

Actual cost

Floppy/diskette

Rs 50

Sample, models

Actual cost

Inspection of records

First hour free, Rs 5 for each subsequent 15 minute.
 

Second Appeals and complaints against non-disclosure of information may be filed with the Punjab State Information Commission.

State Information Commission Contact Details

The State Chief Information Commissioner, Punjab.
Red Cross Building, Near Rose Garden,
Sector 16, Chandigarh
Phone no. : 0172-2864105
E-mail : scic@punjabmail.gov.in
pcic20@punjabmail.gov.in

website: http://infocommpunjab.com/

Newsupdates, Activities & Advocacy

  • One month into the RTI Act 2005 coming into force in Punjab, and the response from the public has been negligible. So far the Deputy Commissioner's office is the only department to have received an application. Lack of publicity about the RTI Act 2005 on the part of the government is one of the main factors responsible for the low-key response.
  • The Punjab Police has said they have fully implemented the RTI Act 2005 in all police districts and headquarters in the State.
  • Mr Rajan Kashyap has been appointed as the State Chief Information Commissioner under the RTI Act 2005. Former, Chief Secretary to the Punjab Government, he has had a distinguished career as a civil servant. A Master of Philosophy in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge, Mr Kashyap joined the IAS in 1965 and retired as Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab in 2003. He has held various important assignments in different departments of the State Government.
  • Punjab Governor S. F. Rodrigues has described the right to information as a crucial initiative in the context of a commoner. Speaking with members of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Press Gallery Committee, he pointed out that good governance happens when the Government acts as a facilator and not as a controller. For more information click here.

Resources & Articles

Government

CHRI

  • CHRI (2006) The Right to Information and Panchayati Raj Institutions: Punjab as a Case Study , written by Sohini Paul and edited by Charmaine Rodrigues & Venkatesh Nayak.
  • CHRI (2005) Forwarding Information Requests and Appeals: A Step by Step Guide for Assistant Public Information Officers under the Right to Information Act 2005, prepared by Mr Venkatesh Nayak.
  • CHRI (2005) Processing Information Requests: A Step by Step Guide for Assistant Public Information Officers under the Right to Information Act 2005, prepared by Mr Venkatesh Nayak.

Miscellaneous

Links