தகவல் பெறும் உரிமைச் சட்டம், 2005 வழிகாட்டி கையேடு

What the guide covers

The Right to Information Act, 2005 Guidebook explains the process for obtaining information held by government offices and government related public authorities. It is relevant to a property buyer, owner or professional who needs records held by such an authority, although the guide itself does not make land use or planning changes.

The guide also identifies Public Information Officers, Assistant Public Information Officers and appellate officers in the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, district collectorates and departmental head offices.

How to request information

A person seeking information may apply in Tamil or English, in writing or electronically, to the appropriate Public Information Officer or Assistant Public Information Officer.

Key application provisions include:

• The request should describe the information or documents required.
• An applicant may ask to inspect records or receive copies.
• An officer must provide reasonable help when a person cannot make a written application.
• The applicant cannot be required to explain why the information is wanted.
• Only contact details needed to communicate with the applicant may be requested.
• If another public authority holds the information or is more closely connected with it, the application or relevant part must be transferred. The transfer should be made as quickly as possible and within five days, and the applicant must be informed.

Fees and response times

The application fee is Rs. 10. The guide lists payment by cash, demand draft, treasury challan or bank draft, as applicable.

Other listed charges include:

• Rs. 2 for each A4 or A3 page copied.
• The actual cost for larger copies, samples or models.
• No charge for the first hour of record inspection, followed by Rs. 5 for each subsequent fifteen minutes or part of that period.
• Rs. 5 for information supplied on a disk or floppy.

Information should normally be provided within thirty days. Information concerning a person's life or liberty must be provided within forty eight hours. People below the poverty line are not to be charged, and information must be provided without charge if the prescribed response period is missed.

Refusal and review

A refusal must state the reasons, the period for making an appeal and the details of the appellate officer. The guide lists exemptions including information affecting national security, information barred from disclosure by a court or tribunal, legislative privilege, and protected commercial confidence or trade secrets, subject to the provisions described in the guide.