Like to file RTI application online? Check these steps

BANGALORE, INDIA: Now, when the citizens of India can file requests for government information under the RTI Act by accessing a new portal- http://rtionline.gov.in/ - there could be some curiosity to know about the procedure to file RTI requests online.

Though the facility is still in its pilot phase, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) is planning to roll out this facility across all ministries and departments situated in New Delhi and at a later stage, the DoPT would also consider for a nationwide roll-out of the facility.

Now the point is, how does one file a request online and would the RTI requests reach the right authority?

Procedure to file an RTI Application Online

At this initial stage, an applicant who desires to obtain any information under the RTI Act, 2005, can make a request to only the Central Public Authorities of main Ministries/Departments through the RTI Online Portal. As per the RTI Act, the applicant need not pay any fee for the first appeal.

While filing an appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA), the applicant has to select the option "Submit First Appeal" in the RTI Online Portal and fill up the form that will appear. The registration number of original application may be used for the reference.

The appeal filed through this RTI Online Portal will also reach electronically to the Nodal Officer of the Ministry or Department concerned and ‘not' to the first Appellate Authority. The Nodal Officer will transmit the first appeal to the concerned First Appellate Authority (FAA), either electronically or physically.

In case the RTI application is not meant for the Ministry or Department, which has been selected by the applicant, the "Nodal Officer" of the said Ministry or Department will transfer the application electronically to the "Nodal Officer" of the main Ministry or Department concerned that is located at New Delhi, under section 6(3) of the RTI Act.

Once the application has been submitted, a unique registration number will be issued, which may be referred by the applicant for any reference in future. The application filed through this RTI Online Portal will reach electronically to the "Nodal Officer" of the Ministry or Department concerned and ‘not' to the CPIO of the Ministry or Department concerned.

The Nodal Officer will transmit the RTI application, either electronically or physically to the concerned CPIO.

While filing the application online, the text may be written in the prescribed column of the form. Currently, the text of the application is restricted to 500 characters only in the prescribed column of the form. In case, the text of an application contains more than 500 characters, it can be uploaded as a PDF attachment in the "Supporting Document" column of the form.

How to pay fees online?

While filing an RTI application, a non-BPL applicant has to pay an application fee of Rs. 10. As per the RTI Rules, 2012, no RTI fee is required to be paid by any citizen who is below poverty line. The applicant must attach a copy of the certificate issued by the appropriate government in this regard, along with the application.

While filling up the first page of the RTI Application online, a non-BPL applicant has to click on "Make Payment" button for remittance of the prescribed RTI fee. The applicant can pay the prescribed RTI fee through Internet banking (through SBI and its associated banks) or by using ATM-cum-Debit card of the State Bank of India (SBI).

In case additional fee representing the cost is required for providing information, the Nodal Officer will intimate the same, which can be viewed by the applicant through ‘View Status' option in the RTI Online Portal and an e-mail alert will be sent to the applicant for the same.

For submitting the additional fee online, the applicant needs to use the option ‘View Status' in the RTI Online Portal and on providing the registration number of the request, option for ‘Make Payment' will provided.

If an applicant wants to receive SMS from RTI Online Portal, then he/she can provide their mobile number for the same. However, this facility is optional for the applicants.