Delhi High Court Today (July 2) asked the Central Government to make new RTI rules for giving information via email or pen drive. The government has 3 months to complete this process.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has given a big decision that will help people who want information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act through digital ways like email or pen drive.
On Wednesday, the Court gave the Central Government three months’ time to make new RTI rules for giving information in electronic form.
The case was heard by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela. They said that the current RTI Rules do not clearly explain what to do when someone asks for information in a special format like email or pen drive.
The Court explained that there should be proper rules and systems in place so that a person asking for information under the RTI Act can get it in the way they want. This will help them fully enjoy their right to information.
The Court said:
“We dispose of the petition with the directions to the appropriate department in the Union of India to consider these aspects and take appropriate measures by framing rules to ensure that information as sought is given to the seeker in the mode sought with adequate safety measures as per the RTI provisions. In consideration of this issue, a decision shall be taken by the Government of India within three months.”
This case came to court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a man named Aditya Chauhan. He asked the Court to give directions to the Central Government to share RTI information in modern ways like email and pen drives.
The PIL said that even though the RTI Act allows electronic sharing of information, many Public Information Officers (PIOs) and government departments are not giving information by email or pen drive. Instead, they only give paper copies or other old formats.
After hearing the full case, the Court agreed that the RTI Act gives people the right to get information in electronic format, but the current RTI Rules do not explain how to do it properly. Because of this gap in the law, it becomes difficult for citizens to get RTI replies in the way they want.
So, the Court finally gave a clear order that the Government of India must make new rules that allow information to be shared digitally in a safe and proper manner.
CASE TITLE:
Aditya Chauhan & Anr vs Union of India & Anr.
Would You Like Assistance In Drafting A Legal Notice Or Complaint?
CLICK HERE
Click Here to Read Our Reports on RTI
Click Here to Read Our Reports on Delhi High Court
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
