Introduction

1.1 Background (Right to Information Act 2005)

The Government of India has enacted an act named Right to Information Act 2005 in order to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities, in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.

With a view to make the legislation on ‘right to information’ more progressive, participatory and meaningful, ‘The Right to Information Bill, 2004’ (RTI Bill) was introduced in the Lok-Sabha on 23rd December, 2004. The Bill was subsequently passed by the House on 11th May, 2005 after adopting certain amendments.

This act came into affect 120 days from the date of enactment. According to the act all citizens shall have the right to information, subject to the provisions of the Act.

• Provision has been made for transfer of a request by a public authority to another public authority wherein the subject matter/information is held by the latter.
• A time limit of 30 days has been prescribed for compliance with requests for information under the Act, which, can be extended to 40 days where third-party interests are involved.
• Fee to be reasonable. Also, no fee to be charged from persons who are below poverty line. Further, information to be provided free of charge where the response time-limit is not adhered to.
• On a request for information being refused, the applicant can prefer an appeal to the prescribed authority within 30 days of the decision, the time limit for disposal of appeal being also 30 days extendable to 45 days.
• Monitoring and reporting Act makes a provision to produce statistics to assess its implementation so that improvements could be effected.
• Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions to monitor the implementation of the Act and prepare an Annual Report to be laid before Parliament/State Legislature.
• Central Government to prepare programme for development of ‘information’ regime.

1.2 Objective of this hand-book

In order to have transparency in public dealings, RTI act is to be given wide publicity and also brought to the notice of all employees as well as the public, so that awareness is created about the new work culture.

Preparation of manual : According to the requirement of Government of India, each Public Authority in the state government is required to produce a manual in form of handbook containing all the information of the concerned government organization.

1.3 Who are the intended users of this manual?

The users of this handbook are the Public, Public Information Officers and Government officers.

Click here to download List of Public Information Officers

જાહેર માહિતી અધિકારીની વિગતો (માર્ગ અને મકાન વિભાગ)

(માહિતી અધિકારી અધિનિયમન-૨૦૦૫ની કલમ-૪બી હેઠળ નકકી કરવામાં આવેધનના મુદ્ધાઓને લગતી માર્ગ અને મકાન વિભાગની માહિતી )

1.4 Contents of hand-book

This handbook provides the information as shown in the table below :

1.5 Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -

(a) "right to information" means the right to information accessible under this Act which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to -

• inspection of work, documents, records;
• taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records;
• taking certified samples of material;
• obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device;

(b) "appropriate Government" means Government of Gujarat (GOG).

(c) R&B is the wing of Government of Gujarat (GOG) dealing with roads and buildings.

(d) "Public Authorities" which means any authority or body or institution of self-government established or constituted by Government of Gujarat (GOG) or under the constitution by any law made by the appropriate Government or any other body owned, controlled or substantially financed directly or indirectly by the appropriate Government, and includes non-government organizations, substantially financed by the government.

(e) "information" means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data materials 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.

1.6 Contact person in case some body wants to get more information on topics covered in the hand-book as well as other information also

The contact person is the "Public information officers" at Secretariat :

• Deputy Secretary (co-ordination) - PIO
• Under Secretary (co- ordination) - APIO

For other offices Public Information Officers of R&BD refer Manual No. 16

1.7 Procedure and Fee Structure for getting information not available in the hand-book

Contact PIO of respective Public Authority.

માહિતી અધિકારી અધિનિયમન-૨૦૦૫ની કલમ-૪બી હેઠળ નકકી કરવામાં આવેધનના મુદ્ધાઓને લગતી માર્ગ અને મકાન વિભાગની માહિતી

અનુક્રમણિકા