How To File An RTI Online?

On social media, way too many frauds are demanding donations in the name of RTI activism.

Now, there are many types of activism – most are for the greater good, for people in general or for poor people’s welfare. Some help women and children, some help marginalised communities, some are about environment (not the toolkit frauds), some are for legal help and so on. But for the first time in my life, I heard a term called RTI activism.

Now, you would definitely wish to know what exactly is RTI activism. First of all, an activism is something that helps a group of people or a larger population. Does filing an RTI fall under activism? If you call ego massaging of a mass an activism then yes. It is activism. There are many people who have taken lakhs of rupees in the name of filing RTI with the Government. They promise some innocent educated mass that they will fight against the power by filing the RTI. And rich vulnerable people even fall for the scam. RTI activists are the new Nigerian Princes.

In short, this so called RTI activism is nothing but a scam. People take money from you in the name of activism, file one two RTIs a day, click pictures and post. Some of you innocent ones call them messiah and hail them. Most of the RTIs do not render any result because they are without any base. Some do render results. But what happens after that? Nothing. And that’s why it is a fraud. Because these frauds do not do anything further. Or even if they do, they are not qualified enough. They do not know what’s the right way to take it further. They file shoddy and sloppy applications in the Supreme Court (lol), the language of which is so bad (because they are not qualified. We studied for 3/5 years for nothing, you know) that you would not accept it just for that.

Mind you, there are people who take donations for creating a team to help them file these RTIs. But there is no team. Not a single lawyer to take those RTI issues forward. Nada.

Coming back to what is RTI and why do people file it? How can you file it? I am going to explain it to you in brief so that next time when need be, you can file one yourself and don’t need to donate to a fraud.

RTI, Right To Information was introduced as a law to bring in transparency in public office. Thus if you want any information about what’s happening in our country, how are things functioning, who is responsible for what and to what extent and such. The Government also defined the state and centre departments that fall within the purview of RTI. So far as the centre is concerned, you can file an RTI in home ministry, health ministry, agricultural ministry, rail ministry and any other ministry that you can think of. You can ask them about the budget allotted for certain things, spend on certain things, when was the work commenced, why was it delayed, how many people were injured during that job, did it take environmental clearance etc. You have a question? Does RTI apply to that ministry? Go ahead and file one.

This is applicable in case of State Governments too. Even state ministries fall within RTI ambit. You can demand for any documents, records, agreements, accounts – everything pertaining to a government department. The RTI act defines this as:

The type of information which may be obtained is defined under section 2 (f) of the Act as any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, log books, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force.

Filing of RTI has been made quite easy by the Government. You can file RTI for any centre ministry at rtionline.gov.in. Most state governments also allow filing of the RTI online. They have their respective sites for the same. If you visit any website of a state, you will find RTI filing option there. On all these sites, you first need to create an account. Once you create it, you get to see your dashboard (see the image below). There, you will see the option of submit an application, view status, file an appeal and such. Select your option, fill out information, select the department, write down your questions that you are seeking the answers for and submit. In case you have many questions, you have the option to upload your RTI form in PDF format too.

Filing an RTI does not require fancy format or language. You need to address it to the right department, state your queries and questions in numerical or bullet form (it is preferred, though not compulsory), sign it and upload. Once you upload it, the site takes you to a payment gateway. Make a payment of 10 Rupees and your application will be submitted. They send you e-mails and smses periodically. You will also be able to see the status of your application online. Further, they send you their reply via post. Thus, write your correct and full address in the information.

And that’s that! It’s as simple. The states that are not accepting online RTI applications, you can send this to them via post too. And they are bound to answer your query within 30 days. And they almost always do so. I have noticed the delay only during covid. Otherwise, they have been prompt. Things that do not fall within the purview of RTI, they will even reply that. Thus a negative reply does not mean lack of transparency. It simply means that the information cannot be disclosed as it is beyond the scope of RTI.

Yes it’s that simple. And some people made some RTI activists millionaires because they thought it’s a big deal to file the RTI. It’s not. It’s pretty simple. And anyone can do so easily. Thus next time if you have extra money, do not donate it to such fraud activists. Donate it to a needy person. Or for Ram Mandir Nirmaan.

Featured image credit: DNA India.