Designated Officer's (DO) Duty for providing Information.

According to the RTI Act, every authority is legally bound to appoint a Designated Officer for each of the information providing units at central, divisional, district and Upazila at the lowest level in every government and non-government organization who would provide the sought information to the applicants following the regulations and exceptions of the law in exchange of the determined fee. 

The Designated Officer (DO) shall render reasonable assistance to the persons seeking information. If a person is unable to make a request in writing, he may seek the help of the DO to write his application.

Appeal Procedure for obtaining RTI

If an applicant is not supplied information within the prescribed time of 20 or 30 days or 24 hours, as the case may be, or is not satisfied with the information furnished to him or is aggrieved by a decision of the Designated Officer, may prefer an appeal to the Appellate Authority who is the administrative head of its immediate superior office within a period or thirty days from the date on which the time limit expires or receipt of such a decision.

The appellate authority of the public authority shall dispose of the appeal within a period of fifteen days after hearing the concerned parties to the appeal petition.

Powers and Fuctions of Information Commission

The Information Commission (IC) enforces and oversees the Right to Information Act, Rules and Regulations made under the Act. 

The  Information Commission's main functions are educating and influencing. It promote good practice and give information and advice for resolving problems and enforcing. IC resolve eligible complaints from people who think their rights have been breached. It use legal sanctions against those who ignore or refuse to accept their obligations. 

Exemptions from Disclosure according to RTI Act.

The right to seek information from a public authority is not absolute. Sections 7of the Act enumerates the categories of information which are exempt from disclosure.

At the same time the Schedule attached to the Act contains the names of the Organizations which are exempt from the purview of the Act.

IC needs its own network throughout the country

The Information Commission is now in the midst of implementing the RTI Act, a task which without cooperation of government offices and the citizens appears difficult to fulfill. In other words, we are in a rudimentary stage which might as well be termed a teething period.

In view of this, Orissa's awareness building campaign provides some cues as far as awareness building to ensure citizens' participation in implementing RTI goes.

Disposal of Complaints by the Information Commission

The Information Commission decides complaints and conveys its decision to the complainant and Appellate Authority/Designated Officer.

Any person who, does not receive a decision within the time specified, or is aggrieved by a decision of the Designated  Officer or the Appellate Authority, as the case may be, may within thirty days from the expiry of such period or from the receipt of such a decision submit a complaint to the Information Commission. 

The role of Civil Society and Media to implement the RTI

We every have to help apply the RTI act more effectively in the interest of transparency and accountability in public service deliveries.

For this purpose Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) can play key roles in monitoring the services delivered by public offices and building awareness of RTI act. Their  proactive role will prevent the abuse of power and public resources.