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| Protect Yourself
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| Public Information Officers |
The Public Information Officer is the interface
between the Public Authority to which he belongs and the citizen seeking
information from the Public Authority. He is the fulcrum around which the
actual operation of the Right to Information Act operates. He is the key figure
in implementation of the Act. He has therefore to perform a variety of
functions. The list of associated duties is large. The Public Information
Officer receives applications requesting for information, processes them,
gathers the information requested and makes the information available to the
person requesting information. It is entire his job. If the particulars of the
case warrant so, he can even refuse to supply the information. In processing
the requested application, he has to ensure that
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Application fee has been paid
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How much further fee is required to be paid by the applicant and inform the
applicant about it
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If the additional fees is such against which appeal can be filed by the
applicant, to inform the applicant the details of the appellate authority
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Interests of third party are protected
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If information requested pertains to any other Public Authority, other than the
public authority to which the Public Information officer belongs, transfer the
application to the concerned Public Information Officer and inform the
applicant.
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If the information requested pertains to the same public authority but the
information sought is under control of some other officer, the application is
not transferable.
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It is the duty of the Public Information officer to fetch the necessary
information from him and provide the same to applicant. In this connection
Section 6(3) of the Act may be referred to which reads as follows:
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6.
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(3)
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Where an application is made to a public authority
requesting for an information,—
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(i)
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which is held by another public authority; or
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(ii)
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the subject matter of which is more closely
connected with the functions of another public authority,
the public authority, to which such application is made, shall transfer the
application or such part of it as may be appropriate to that other public
authority and inform the applicant immediately about such transfer:
Provided that the transfer of an application pursuant to this sub-section shall
be made as soon as practicable but in no case later than five days from the
date of receipt of the application.
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Information is supplied within the prescribed time as per the Act. (maximum
time thirty days) In case of refusal to supply the information, he has to pass
an order in writing giving reasons for refusal and inform the applicant the
details of the appellate authority where applicant can file appeal against the
decision of the Public Information Officer.
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The Public Information officer has to be watchful and diligent in performing the
role. He is crucially dependent upon other Officers of his organization for
collecting the information desired by any citizen. In the above scenario, the
chances of failing to comply with duties assigned in the Right to Information
Act are high. And for these failures, he is personally responsible.
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