The Central Information Commission has asked the Delhi government to evolve a more citizen-friendly system so that RTI applicants are not hassled while availing information after depositing additional fee.
"The commission under the powers given to it recommends to the public authority (Delhi Government) that it should evolve an appropriate system for the PIO to be informed about the additional fees without shifting this burden on the RTI applicants," Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said.
The case pertains to one S Shobhana who went for file inspection at the Home Department of the Delhi government under Right to Information Act where she identified 61 pages for photocopying and deposited Rs 122 for the same.
She alleged that receipt of the fee was given to the PIO and returned in mutilated form after much hassles.
"It is unfortunate that the department expects the citizen to physically deposit the cash receipt or a photocopy
with the PIO. Once a citizen paid the money it is the department's responsibility to find the way of communicating
this to the PIO.
"This can be done by either a duplicate receipt being sent to the PIO...or by simple email," Gandhi said.
"In the instant case, the PIO crossed the receipt and put down the ID number since the appellant wanted the original
receipt with herself. It appears that the department has no proper method of ensuring that the PIO knows that the
additional fee has been paid by an RTI applicant," he said while making the recommendation.