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No one is bothered about RTI and pressures, as Information Commissions never take such "Deemed denial" seriously. It is just a courtesy to send the copy to PIO. In one page the first side is first appeal and on back side xerox of the RTI Application showing xerox of postal receipt. This makes no difference, but if the PIO is really responsible, it serves as a reminder that's all. Also try to make a complaint under Sec.18 direct to IC agains PIO for deemed denial and mark this complaint copy to PIO. Now APIC passed one order that they will call for comments first from PIO on such deemed denial. This may work in your case to bring pressures as the complaint is to SIC.

Any record available with public authority in material form is information under RTI. The Supreme Court ruling applies to applications before Courts in which there was a laid down procedure for seeking certified copies of documents, long before RTI enactment. PIO is smart and ask them (PIO/FAA) to read the said judgment and enlighten him that it applies to those applications filed before Courts alone. Go for first appeal or file fresh RTI Application seeking inspection and then select that file for providing of information and you can obtain desired information through certified copies.

Guru Purnima is a grand day that is significant to revive the connection between the students and the teachers in both academic and spiritual ways. Students and disciples all over the world dedicate this day to their teachers. It is a societal and religious celebration. The ancient and present Indian tradition acknowledges the positive impact of Guru or a teacher in a student’s life. A Guru or a teacher plays a significant role in molding the student’s life and guide him through all the phases of life. A Guru guides a student to help him reach his goals and advance in his spiritual and materialistic life. His grace and blessings are powerful to dispel ignorance (darkness) from the life of the student. On this day disciples and students recognize the importance of Guru in life and receive their blessings. I would like to thank admin, GLN Prasad sir, Sunil Ahya, Dr V S Prasanna and other Senior Members in this forum who share their view and guidance by helping learning people like us. Sir, I would like to thank you as many time whenever we stuck in between and post our issue you all help us by sharing required things to be done by investing your important time in this forum helping many people in their respective issues. Thanks Regards. Vijendra.s

Thanks for valuable inputs on questions asked by being given by our RTI Guru's on the day of Guru Purnima. Regards.

Credit should go to our Mahaguru Shri C.J. Karira who has enriched the forum contributing to maximum posts and had maximum likes, and taken up fights with CIC/HC on his own for larger public interest. Members should also not forget the super moderator Raveena madam, who ensured detailed guidance with discipline and many of her replies are treasures. The main institution that brought the gurus and disciplines is the RTI India Org and every one in the administration deserves appreciation for their services.

If you are satisfied with the information, you may inform to CIC as a matter of courtesy, in case if the PIO failed to provide the information within 30 days, report non compliance through another complaint providing the details of decision, orders, non implementation, under copy to PIO and FAA.

File a complaint u/s. 18 with the SCIC. Grounds of complaint: 1. The PIO has not complied with the directions of the SCIC to file an affidavit despite a lapse of ______ days after the SCIC's Order Dated: _________. The complainant therefore urges the Hon'ble Commission to exercise its powers u/s. 18(3) of the RTI Act read with Section 27 to 32 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 and thereby institute an inquiry with due regard to its powers as are vested in a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. A true copy of the SCIC directions are annexed herewith as Annexure "A" Pages __________. 2. Similarly mention if there are any other grounds of complaint. Prayers: In the above premises this Hon'ble Commission may be pleased to: 1. Issue summons to compel the attendance of the PIO in accordance with the provisions of section 18 of the RTI Act read with section 27 to 32 of the CPC, 1908. 2. Direct the PIO to file the affidavit in compliance with the Hon'ble SCIC's Order Dated: __________. 3. Any other further Orders in the interest of justice.

What are some of the shocking, weirdest, silliest RTI requests made in India? As Abraham Lincoln said “Government is of the people, by the people, for the people” The government is our servant and we have no duty to explain why we seek information from them. The government holds all the information in our behalf, in trust. Like a banker can’t ask you why you want to see your bank account statement, similarly the government can’t deny if you ask them how they are governing our country. With the mechanism of RTI we can actually participate in the working of the government. RTI or Right To Information is an act of Indian parliament that empowers the common people to seek information from the government. It empowers the Indian citizens to inspect the government work, take notes and get certified photocopies to know the status of work. It’s been ten years since the RTI Act came into existence to empower people and bring transparency to the system. However, people have been using it in rather unconventional ways. The queries that the government receives often fall in the range from being funny to outright absurd. In technical terms, these queries fall under the frivolous or vexatious category which means they denote an action or the bringer of an action that is brought without sufficient grounds for winning, purely to cause annoyance to the defendant. In the language of the internet, they were filed just to troll people. Here are some of the funniest RTI applications filed by people in India: 1. RTI for Indian nuclear launch code: A guy has asked in his Right To Information query undoubtedly is too much of funny. The Twitterati could not believe their eyes when Vivek Kumar, deputy secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and an Indian Foreign Services (IFS) officer, shared on the micro blogging site that a person has filed a RTI seeking the launch codes to India’s nuclear arsenal. Could you believe it? Does the person not know that nobody but the serving prime minister of India has access to the launch codes of nuclear weapons? Please do not take it as a joke, for statutory fee of Rs 10 had also been deposited in this regard. The application was obviously rejected. It had to be. It is a funny story of a RTI activist whose identity remained hidden. 2. RTI regarding Lord Venkateshwara: Yes you read that right. In 2014, Mr Narashimha Murthy, a social activist, allegedly filed a RTI to the TTD (Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam) trust questioning them whether Lord Venkateshwara's debt to Kubera had been cleared or how much was still left. His basis of filing the RTI was his allegation that the trust had hoodwinked the public by weaving a story about the Lord owing a debt. A funny RTI query has been made by a Bengalurean to Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam (TTD), asking for information about the money Lord Venkateshwara has borrowed from Kubera at the time of his marriage with Padmavathi and how much he has returned. TTD is yet to give a reply. The RTI applicant alleges that TTD is hoodwinking people by stating that the lord is still paying back interest for the principal amount he had borrowed from Kubera from the proceeds of the famous Tirupati 'Hundi'. Narasimha Murty, a Bangalore-based RTI activist, visited Tirupati and saw a board which spoke about the money borrowed from Kubera, the lord of wealth, by Lord Srinivasa and the need for the latter to pay interest on the loan among other things. "After I saw the board, I was taken aback at the way people are being fooled by this mythology. They all use god's name to make gains, which made me file this RTI query," Narasimha Murty said. Murty has addressed this RTI to the accounts officer and to the public information officer. "TTD says that the lord is still paying interest to Kubera and it is the money given by devotees that only can help in this mission. As a citizen of this country, I have all rights to know the accounts of the TTD. But even after much time, TTD has not given me any details about the accounts. So, I have gone before the Andhra Pradesh information commissioner. Even after repeating request letters, TTD is not answering the questions I have posed," Murty said. The story: According to mythology, Lord Venkateshwara who was believed to be an incarnation of Vishnu, was named as Srinivasa. There was a king called Akasha Raja who was ruling the state that time. Many a time, Srinivasa quarrelled with his divine consort Lakshmi and on one occasion came to Tirupati to do penance in an anthill. He was doing penance all day and no one knew about this. Every day, one cow used to come to that place and give milk to Srinivasa. Once the cow was back home, it stopped giving milk. Confused by this, shepherds who were looking after this cow followed it, and found it looking after Srinivasa who was inside the anthill. They went to hit the cow with a stick but to safeguard the animal, Srinivasa came out and took the blows on his head. While the attackers left the place, a bleeding Srinivasa was rescued by a woman called Okkala Devi who took him to her place and brought him up as her son. He started staying with her and one day he saw Padmavathi, the Princes of the region. Srinivasa fell in love with her which she also reciprocated. Okkala Devi then approached the king Akasha Raja requesting him to allow the two to marry. The king asked Okkala Devi about her status and about money she had to conduct the wedding. It is at this juncture that Srinivasa was forced to go to Kubera, the lord of wealth and riches, for a loan. After processing the loan, Srinivasa got to marry Padmavathi. Mythology says that from that day till date, Srinivasa is repaying Kubera his loan. "Based on this story, the Devastanam still says that Lord Balaji is paying the interest and it is pressuring devotees to give more and more money. Emotional devotees believe all this and part with crores of rupees. I have heard of rich people like the Amabanis, Vijay Mallya and several other politicians donating huge sums to Lord Balaji. Is there an account for all this," Murty questions and says he will fight till he gets answers for his questions. Narasimha Murty is an RTI activist who has been fighting regarding the property and the gold which came out after opening of the doors at Padmanabha Swamy temple in Kerala, as well as the death of an IAS officer who was looking after the temple. Post-this battle, Karnataka Golf Association was also declared a public authority based on his application. Well, the story in the News article has few discrepancies; nevertheless the gist is the same. This must have possibly been a creative petition to let the people think twice before donating at the temple. 3. RTI Query: “Whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before he came into politics, worked in any Ramlila Troop? If yes, what role he played?” The PMO replied: “Information sought is not part of record.” 4. RTI Query on of another applicant wanted to know “how many and which type of cylinder” were “used in (the PM’s) kitchen” in October 2014 and May 2015. The applicant also sought “copies of bills of cylinders” and “copies of bills and spices” bought in May 2015. The PMO replied: “The kitchen expense of the Prime Minister is personal in nature and not incurred on government account.” This exchange is just one example of the nature of queries relating to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that have been raised by applicants and responded to by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) under the Right To Information (RTI) Act. The below are some of the RTI Queries: Q: Records and documents which show that the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, is the Prime Servant of India and not the Prime Minister. A: “There is no proposal to change the official designation of PM.” Q: Has the Prime Minister read the Indian constitution? Is the Prime Minister supposed to read the Indian constitution? Is the Prime Minister assumed to have read Indian constitution? Has anyone in the PMO till date told the Prime Minister what his duties are towards India? A: “Information sought does not fall under the definition of information.” Q: Who helps the Prime Minister in sending tweets in regional and foreign languages? Names of individual (s) for each regional language. A: “Information sought is not maintained on record.” (Another reply says that the “Prime Minister himself is managing his personal social media accounts.”) Q: Number of sick or casual or health leave availed by the Prime Minister in the last 10 years. A: “No leave has been availed by the present Prime Minister since taking over the office.” (Replying to a related query on whether Prime Minister Modi was on leave during the Bihar election campaign last year, the PMO responded: “Tours on election campaign are not official.”) Q: Percentage of marks Modi secured while graduating in 1977 from Delhi University. A: “Does not form part of records.” Q: Can one get the mobile number of the PM under RTI? A: “The PMO has not given any mobile phone to Prime Minister.” Q: Legal status of announcements made by the Prime Minister. A: “Once the announcement is made, the ministries concerned are entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the announcements and monitoring their implementation.” Q: Does the PMO communicate; send letters, etc., in the official language Hindi? A: “Letters in Hindi received from Union Ministers, Governors, Chief Ministers, etc., are replied to in Hindi… Hindi letters from public are also replied in Hindi.” Q: Roza iftar parties Prime Minister Modi attended in 2014 and 2015. A: “None.” And finally this: Q: Has the Principal Secretary to the PM, Nripendra Misra, ever taken his colleagues in the PMO on a picnic? If yes, who all went, how much money was spent, were family members also invited on such excursion, and what was the food menu? Was the food ordered from an external caterer? Was the venue fixed by general consensus or was it decided solely by Misra? A: “No picnic/excursion was ever organised by Nripendra Misra.” 5. A RTI Application also asked Who officially declared Gandhi as Father of the Nation (since we always read it in our text books) The 10 year old girl had filed an RTI query seeking information on Gandhi Ji’s title of ‘father of nation’ In a written reply, the government said that Mahatma Gandhi cannot be accorded the 'Father of the Nation' title by government as the Constitution does not permit any titles except educational and military ones. While giving reference to the Article 18 (1) of the Constitution, the MHA had said that it does not permit any titles except education and military ones. The MHA had transferred her appeal to the National Archives of India. The Central Information Commissioner Basant Seth then had stated, "There is no order/document on record by which Gandhiji was given the title of "Rastrapita". Ans: No official declaration done till now. 6. Who declared Gandhi Jayanti, Republic day, Independence Day as national holidays? Ans: Such orders were never issued. Bangalore, Aug 14: The reply to an RTI query has come as a shock to all those Indians who believed that Aug 15, Jan 26 and Oct 2 are national holidays. Apparently, these three dates were never notified by the government. It was the persistent efforts of one Aishwarya Parashar that revealed this amazing fact. Earlier this year in April, the 10-year-old had asked the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for a copy of the particular government order (GO) that specified the national holidays. The PMO passed on her query to the Ministry of Home, which at first claimed that the matter does not pertain to it. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) should provide the answer, the Home Ministry averred. Finally, the latter clarified on May 17 that it could not find any GO that notified Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti as national holidays. Aishwarya was bemused by the reply because she has been taught in school that Jan 26, Aug 15 and Oct 2 are national holidays. When she filed an appeal to find out the truth, the appellate authority not only confirmed that the Home Ministry's statement was correct but also requested the National Archives to provide the 10-year-old a copy of the GO if any exists. A determined Aishwarya has since shot off letters to the President and the Prime Minister, demanding the GO. Now the onus is on both Pranab Mukherjee and Manmohan Singh to satisfy her curiosity. 7. A RTI Applicate asked what is the Speed of internet at the PMO? Is his internet faster than ours? Brave Right to Information warriors have exposed how fast Modi’s wifi is! The average Indian gets 2Mbps, and Modi gets 34Mbps. (If you think that’s fast, the ‘Startup Village’ in Kochi has 1Gbps connectivity - 30 times as fast as the PM’s office!) The RTI also found that the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) uses Windows 7/Windows 8, and there's no money spent on running the @PMOIndia Twitter handle. While the RTI was brought in for transparency, some geniuses are turning it into a joke. Sample these RTI petitions. Yes these are real. Ans: 34 Mbps. 8. Did you know that Hockey is not our National game? This was revealed in an RTI filed by a class VII student, Aishwarya Parashar who sought information on a government order pertaining to India’s national game. Quite surprisingly, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in its response stated that ministry has not declared any sport as its national game. Same as ENERGY, STUPIDITY can be neither created nor be destroyed, but it transforms from one form to another. All these does not ends here only as many have asked: • Can we have the election symbols with the rainbow filter? (On Voting Machines) A political activist asked Election Commission of India why elections symbol used in electronic voting machines are black and white and not colourful. • An RTI doesn't really have an age limit - legally, even a six year old can file one. And 9 year old Pranav filed an RTI that forced the Delhi police to register his stolen bike. He even asked for a Rs. 2500 compensation, and demanded action against the assistant sub-inspector! The police were given a challenge by a 9-year-old boy named Pranav who used an RTI to force the police officers to file an FIR for his lost bicycle. The police had initially refused the to file the FIR for a trivial offense. I have a feeling that this kid is going to grow up and do some great stuff. • Do you know what underpants should you wear before the Prime Minister? It is one of the most absurd queries received by RTI act provoked by a ridiculous reason. A “troubled” citizen filed a petition asking what undergarments can be worn before the Prime Minister. The question was asked directly to the PMO’s Office asking for the exact “specification of undergarments.” Why? Because previously he had been arrested for stripping down to his briefs scribbled with anti-government slogans in a government convention addressed by the PM. I am so impressed by this guy’s guts. • RTI vs. RTI! In 2009, a Pune RTI activist revealed how local politicians were using the RTI to spy on him, and try to stop him before he revealed their illegal activities! • Um, just for research purposes. An RTI applicant literally asked where exam papers for the Aligarh Muslim University were printed, and where they were checked. • Some people can confuse RTI with Shaadi.com A man in his late forties from Kutch Gujarat filed a request under the RTI Act demanding information on the eligible females in the government department for marriage. The request was made to the Tamil Nadu state information commission. In his application, he also stated the fact that an eligible bachelor from any government department would do for him. He just really wanted to get married to a government employee. • Kya Ache Din Aa Gaye Hain? Someone literally asked the Prime Minister's office if "achhe din" are here. We can imagine the response was “Work in progress” • Time is money, but how much money exactly? Time is money, but how much money is it according to Indian scriptures? An RTI asked the Punjab University this question. • Saar, how much is cost of 1 wife @ MRP? The same Punjab University RTI also asked how much a pretty and religious bride would cost, according to the Ramayana and the Mahabharata! • How religious in the governor ? A resident of Hyderabad sought details from Andhra Pradesh governor on how many times does he visit temples in a day and also copy of the dinner menu hosted at his official residence. • How much ‘paan’ do MCD officials really chew ? Blood red stains might be compulsory artwork at every sarkari office, but this Delhi resident had had enough! He filed an application asking how much 'paan' and tobacco an MCD official consumes on average in a day, and even asked about the paan ingredients! • Where'd I go wrong? A wannabe Delhi University (DU) lecturer who didn't get the university job filed an RTI asking DU where his answers weren't as good as other people who applied. • RTI = student discount? A duplicate Delhi University marksheet costs Rs. 500. An RTI costs Rs. 10. Which is why Delhi students thought they'd get a duplicate marksheet for Rs. 10. Nah, it doesn't work like that. • A disgruntled applicant wanted to know if Arvind Kejriwal’s reads the comments on his social media channels. In his application, he asked that when Arvind Kejriwal posts asks “silly and stupid questions” on Facebook and twitter, does he check the comments he receives on such posts. This information being personal in nature, can’t be answered under RTI. Even then, it doesn’t stop people from trying their luck! • A Delhi University student, filed an RTI against the girl he fell in love with. After few months of dating, he found out that she was married! He wanted to know what he can do to complain against her and get her punished for the mental agony she had caused. • This is around the time our country directed a lot of anger towards Fawad Khan. We had questions coming in asking if Fawad Khan was allowed to legally work and stay in India for his movie “Ae dil hai mushkil”. • An emotional applicant had asked whether astrologists and priests are authorized to declare someone a “manglik”. If someone has “mangal dosh” and their spouse dies, is there any reason to believe that the “manglik” person is to be blamed? Quite a few RTI cases demand information from religious bodies. • Private companies do not fall under RTI, which is a problem for many people. We received a query demanding call recording of a TataSky customer support call. Unfortunately, private companies are not required to answer RTI questions. • RTI Registration number : MHOME/R/2016/50729: Applicant : Ajay Kumar Information sought: I am concerned about the readiness of our government in the event of an invasion by Aliens Zombies and Extradimensional beings . 1. What are our chances against them? 2. What means does the ministry of Home affair have at its disposal to defeat them? 3. Can we do it without Will Smith? The government promptly replied that information that is available can be shared under RTI . Since no info about hypothetical situations is available, it cannot be given. This has to be the most polite reply given under the RTI act! • The applicant, a resident of Ahmedabad, had sought information about Mahatma Gandhi, some of the former Presidents of India and other Ministers asking for their correct date and time of birth, their blood group and above all their IQ. • How many bullock cart tracks are in Delhi? How many trees in the capital are green and how many are dead? How many cups of tea are consumed by the police personnel? • Where did the laddoos go ? A UP girl sent the erstwhile President George Bush some laddoos for 'Raksha bandhan'. Either he ate them and forgot about them, or his Secret Service did. Either way, she didn’t get a thank you mail. Our brave girl then approached the National Human Rights Commission to take action! A UP girl asked NHRC on why 'ladoos' sent by her to US President George W. Bush on 'Rakshabandhan' never reached him and requested the commission to take appropriate action. • In January 2010, a 47-year-old man from Kutch, Gujarat, requested the Tamil Nadu state information commission to provide him information on life partner for marriage from any govt department. • How much maggie was wasted during its ban? • Please send sarkari wife! A 47-year-old man asked the Tamil Nadu state information commission to let him know about a suitable life partner working at any government department. • Who made you Bapu? A class VI girl asked if MK Gandhi ever got an actual ‘Father of the Nation’ title. What was even more awesome was that this was in 2012, when the Congress party was in power. The question went to the PMO, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and then to the National Archives of India– no one had an answer. • Perhaps this is who people on Twitter refer to as ‘chaddi warriors’! An activist protested by stripping naked at a convention where former PM Manmohan Singh was speaking, and then filed an RTI asking the PMO if they needed to approve his brand of underwear! • Someone asked about how much tea is used in Indian Army on daily bases. • Haryana Police: Wives of Haryana Police officers filled a series of RTIs, asking for the information related to the salary of their husbands and what are there duty timings. • RTI revealed how the President Pratibha Patil tried to construct a retirement home out of govt. funds much in excess of her entitlement. It also revealed the hundreds of crores spent on her foreign travel which had little impact on the future of India. • Hindi, not a national language: Court Gujarat High Court has observed that though majority of people in India have accepted Hindi as a national language, there was nothing on record to suggest that any provision has been made or order issued declaring Hindi as a national language of the country. The observation was made by division bench of Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and justice A.S. Dave recently while rejecting a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by one Suresh Kachhadia. Mr. Kachhadia had filed the PIL last year seeking direction to Central and State government to make it mandatory for manufacturers to print details of goods like price, ingredients and date of manufacture in Hindi. The court observed, “Normally, in India, majority of the people have accepted Hindi as a national language and many people speak Hindi and write in Devanagari script but there is nothing on record to suggest that any provision has been made or order issued declaring Hindi as a national language of the country.” “No mandamus can be issued on any manufacturer or others for giving details or particulars of package in Hindi in Devanagari script,” it further said. It was contended by Mr. Kachhadia’s lawyer that Hindi was the national language and was understood by a large number of persons in the country. The Counsel representing central government submitted that specific provision has been made under the Standard of Weight and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules of 1977 that particulars of declaration should be in Hindi in Devanagari script or in English. The court said that the Constituent Assembly while discussing the Language Formula noticed the recommendation of the Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights, which recommended the formula as per which, “Hindustani, written either in Devanagari or the Persian script at the option of the citizen, shall, as the national language, be the first official language of the Union. English shall be the second official language for such period as the Union may, by law, determine.” However, in the constitution, Hindi was declared as an official language and not a national language. The court in its order said Part XVII of the Constitution deals with Official Language. Under Article 343, official language of the Union has been prescribed, which includes Hindi in Devanagari script and English. • Highest number of Indian prisoners are in Saudi Arabia: As many as 6,569 Indian nationals are currently lodged in prisons of 67 foreign countries, including 254 in Pakistan reveals a RTI query. The Arab countries topped the list with Saudi Arabia (1691), Kuwait (1161) and UAE (1012), according to the information provided by the MEA on April 22 to lawyer and RTI activist DB Binu. Italy has 121 Indian prisoners. The list also showed that UK has 426, USA 155, China 157, Bangladesh 62, Afghanistan 28, Bahrain 18 and Nepal 377 Indian prisoners. • IIM reveals admission criteria: Despite an impressive percentile Vaishnavi Kasturi, a visually-impaired student, in 2007 was denied a seat in the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore, one of the country’s premier management institutes. She then filed an RTI application to request the institution to disclose the admission process. Though Vaishnavi did not get admission in any of the IIMs, her doubts over admission procedure were clarified. In a response to the query, the Chairman said “CAT scores are just one-fifth of the criteria for admissions. Forty per cent weight age is given for class X, XII and bachelor's scores. Work experience is given weight age too but it’s mostly performance in the group discussion and interview that counts which is up to 35 per cent, plus 5 per cent weight age is there if you have done a chartered accountancy course.” • The national anthem of India does not contain the word - "Sindh" - since 1950. Prof. Shrikant Malushte, a retired professor, challenged the word "Sindh" in the national anthem of India on the following grounds: "When Rabrindranath Tagore's poem was adapted by the Constituent Assembly in 1950 as the national anthem, the word 'Sindh' was replaced by 'Sindhu' considering the fact that the region was part of Pakistan partitioned from India. The newly replaced word Sindhu denotes the river that originated in Pakistan but flows through the Indian valleys," said 75-year-old Shreekanth Malushte. However, despite the correction made by the Constituent Assembly, the government continued to prescribe the original poem written by Tagore, leading to a situation where the anthem was sung in two versions[1]. Prof. Shrikant then availed the RTI Act and obtained papers from the Ministry of Home Affarirs which confirmed that the correct version of the national anthem had the word 'Sindhu'[2]. He then moved the Bombay High Court that agreed with his observations and said that 'Sindh' in national anthem is probably a mistake and directed the center to provide its point of view. However, in 2005, the Supreme court had dismissed a similar case by mentioning that the authentic text contained "Sindh". Therefore, eventually the Bombay High court decided that 'Sindh will remain in the national anthem' • You know there's money being flushed down the toilet - or the Ganga, when startups can build empires from bedrooms, and yet a single 'Clean Ganga' meeting costs over 40 lakh Rupees. That was the budget for a single Vigyan Bhawan meeting by the Modi government's high level team to clean the Ganga! This was revealed through by RTI application. They've somehow managed to spend Rs 75,000 on "floral decorations"- and here's the other math: Meetings and accommodation of guests: Rs 26.7 lakh Officials' travel: Rs 8.8 lakh Advertising the event: Rs 5.1 lakh. Other arrangements: Rs 2.3 lakh Actually cleaning the Ganga: JEERO! • If the legal age of a Man to get sexually active is 18 years and the legal age for him to get married is 21... Then what are we actually suggesting he should do these 3 years? • Now if the legal age for a Man to get married is 21 years and the legal age for him to start drinking is 25 years... then how do you suggest he survives the first 4 years of marriage??? • The most awkward RTI demanded copies of all RTIs filed in the country and their replies. 1. https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-of-funny-question-asked-by-RTI-applicant 2. https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-of-the-weirdest-silliest-RTI-requests-made-in-India 3. https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-interesting-RTI-questions-asked 4. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/prime-minister-narendra-modi-right-to-information-act-rti-application-2922517/ 5. https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-of-the-weirdest-silliest-RTI-requests-made-in-India 6. http://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/is-india-prepared-for-a-zombie-apocalypse-rti-asking-this-goes-viral-1464688 7. http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/bizarre-rti-query-what-is-mahatma-gandhi-iq-level/708015 8. http://www.firstpost.com/living/many-trees-green-many-cups-tea-drink-bizarre-rti-queries-sent-delhi-police-2026359.html 9. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/consumer-legal/6-funniest-rti-applications-filed-in-india/slideshow/39658972.cms 10. http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/crime/He-seeks-answers-from-the-god-of-big-things/articleshow/45461478.cms 11. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Hindi-not-a-national-language-Court/article16839525.ece 12. https://www.oneindia.com/2012/08/14/august-15-not-a-national-holiday-home-ministry-1053692.html 13. https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-greatest-truths-that-RTI-Right-to-Information-Act-India-revealed 14. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-08/mumbai/30130317_1_national-anthem-sanjeev-bhatnagar-word 15. https://www.indiatimes.com/culture/who-we-are/these-are-the-most-ridiculous-rti-petitions-filed-in-india-228214.html 16. https://www.storypick.com/funny-rti-application/

Team, First of all Thanks for making such great efforts on this site to guide RTI applicants and knowledge seekers My question is. What your opinion on whether to mark a copy to PIO when I apply for 1st Appeal OR 2nd Appeal ?? I never sent a copy to PIO when ever I file for 1st Appeal or 2nd Appeal. What I recently felt that, sending a copy of PIO at each appeal could create a psychological pressure. ( Unless they become pathetic & irresponsible officials, as generally is the case in Revenue dept) Regards

"Larger public interest" should not be used for denying information as per CIC full bench decision. There are no exemptions in RTI Act if applicant can establish larger public interest.

Precious things must be searched though difficult. If you want guidance, post your query in open forum and you can expect a bottle feeding from experts to your specific query.

Great post ... Thanks for sharing secret information. Not many places these kind of information is available. Great efforts... keep up the good work

Yes sir I do respect your response, we really enrich because of huge contribution of Shri C.J. Karira sir, and Mam Raveena and today on occassion of Guru Purnima I thanks these Mahaguru too for their valuable contribution which help us in various region. Thanks you all.

Thanks for your support and guidance, here may I inform you that PIO has not given any information so far and even first appeal filed before FAA for not supplying the information even after mandatory period of 30 days, FAA also not taken the cognizance of first appeal. Therefore, complaint u/s 18 was filled before Central Information Commission on which this decision was given. By filling another complaint again for non compliance of Information Commissioner order shall take another 2 years minimum.

RTI Act came into force in 2005. During the last 15+ years all most all such sections in Sec.8 (1) were used by PIOs to deny information, and the justification and law in using those section was available in earlier CIC/SIC/HC/SC judgments as authentic citations. There are still some idiots that use such exemptions when proper forums defined when they can be used and when they can not be applied. Mere discussion in forum can not enlighten the PIO and is a waste of time. If any member wishes to understand as to whether that sub section is properly applied or not, he can search in CIC decisions/Judgments of courts available in the forum and quote the same in further appeals.

Remember, that any appeal hearing takes minimum 2 years. Maximum you may have to spend Rs.22/- for taking a chance with FAA. Either you may get information for Rs.22/- or else he may reject your submission. By making an effort to get the information early, your loss may be Rs.22/-. Your second appear opportunities are open and in tact and these further submissions strengthen your appeal grounds as it reflects your efforts and their stubbornness.

When the forum is dedicated for a particular filed of guiding citizens in seeking information from public authorities under RTI Act, neither one is proper in hijacking the posts to Human Relations issue nor the forum members replies/feed back may not be the expected standards demanded by the original queriest. The member himself not hinted his query in a detailed manner.

Mark this as copy to FAA invariably and pray for directions for providing of information as SA may come up for hearing after one year and that information is urgently required.

due to presence of above citation on IT website i am adding line on my sa now as below. Appellant had gone through www.incometaxindia.gov.in website and via searching RTI law and Judgment found many important decisions to guide CPIO in subject of TEP related information allowed to be given to appellant such as Shri Bhagat Singht RTI Judgment, Shri Manoj Kumar Saini Rti Judgment etc. Hence denial of Information from CPIO and AA Order acting as unlawful and deliberately malafide.

Good, that is the way to reply to CIC, Brief, to the point. You can state all citation reference in second appeal stating that inspite of the following earlier citations, the information was denied. Also write another letter to FAA, stating the summary of such excerpts from each decision and state that it is not proper to deny information and such denial inspite of earlier rulings amounts to contempt. Also search in IT website as they have uploaded these citations, as they have uploaded all important decisions to guide CPIOs. If they have uploaded these citations in their website, then the denial becomes unlawful and deliberately malafide. If they have not uploaded, it means that authorities are resorting to partisan attitude and uploading only those decisions/judgments in which their version is supported and suppressing the valid decisions/judgments that is according to law and misleading CPIOs and failing to educate CPIOs. This you can post as grievance in pgrmsin on line portal, expressing a grievance that as those decisions/judgments are not uploaded deliberately, citizen applicants are forced to knock doors of CIC waiting for years together for same decision. This is a grievance and must be redressed.

Please do not enclose such decisions with second appeals as no one cares. Reserve it for stating as citations during SA hearing. Further Judges deliver Judgments, others like Commission decides (decisions) I heartily appreciate for your perseverance and your action in attachments relevant is really nice on your part. Most of the RTI applications still after such decisions are still being rejected on TEP and the forum is having lot of such queries. You will be doing a lot of service if you can write a blog on this TEP in this forum and Income tax returns with attachments of the above. Delhi HC judgment is really good.

Yes sir I have collected below listed CIC judgment for attaching as enclosure with SA now. a Order dt. 03.12.2007 BhagatSingh-Vs-CIC and Ors b Order dt. 4.3.2010 of CIC in Shri Manish Kumar Vs IT Department c Order dt. 18.2.2010 of CIC in Shri Virag R. Dhulia Vs IT Department d Order dt. 19.2.2010 of CIC in Shri Chetan Anand Parashar Vs IT Department e Order dt. 15.12.2011 of CIC in Shri G.L Agrawal, Jaipur Vs IT Department, Bangalore Order dt. 03.12.2007 BhagatSingh-Vs-CIC and Ors.pdf Order dt. 4.3.2010 of CIC in Shri Manish Kumar Vs IT Department.pdf Order dt. 15.12.2011 of CIC in Shri G.L Agrawal, Jaipur Vs IT Department, Bangalore.pdf Order dt. 18.2.2010 of CIC in Shri Virag R. Dhulia Vs IT Department.pdf Order dt. 19.2.2010 of CIC in Shri Chetan Anand Parashar Vs IT Department.pdf

Unless those dedicated and committed (that can financially afford to) files writ on such irregularities in IC, such improper and ultravires functioning by the subordinate officials can not be exposed. You can also file a private complaint on missing wife and entrust this task to private detectives also. I will not be surprised if the same police retaliate by building a case and victimise you stating that you are involved in the act of missing. Please take personal precautions and watch every step before you leap against Police inaction and lethargy. Filing Habeas corpus is the immediate remedy.

It was specifically ruled that RTI is not for redressal of grievances and one can get information as available in physically available material form as a record in custody of the Authority Further a citizen can seek information and can not question the quality of the actions of public authority You can file RTI application seeking information from CPIO, DJB Information solicited: 1.Please provide me the entire copies of office notes and final disposal of grievance Registered Ref No............wit customer care center You can also issue notice under CP Act, if you are paying any user charges and there is negligence or deficiency of services by Delhi Jail Board, wait for a month and file complaint before the DIstrict Consumer Forum on line seeking compensation for harassment and deficiency in delivering the services for which you have paid consideration in the form of charges The website is user friendly

You can attach another self attested copy as there is no use in argument. You can modify the SA with FAA orders. There is no mention in your latest post on FAA order details.

That is a comment/passing general observation and not a part or finding or judgment. TO clear such doubts, I have mentioned in the note. Unless it is a finding, ruling or judgment that casual comments are not to be construed as final law. As per Indian Evidence Act, any document obtained under prevailing law is a valid documentary evidence. Sec.75 & 76 also states about documents obtained from authorities are Public record. The observation is partially correct as I have seen many such cases where PIOs and parties colluded and conspired to provide incorrect information and such authorities never provide inspection of such original records. There is no need to worry as this is not finding and even if it is a finding it is against laid down law.

RTI replies not very reliable, do not cite RTI documents:" Supreme Court observes The observation was made by a Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna while hearing an appeal against an order of the Allahabad High Court. Information obtained through Right to Information Act (RTI Act) need not necessarily be reliable and lawyers should refrain from citing the same as authorities while arguing cases, the Supreme Court orally remarked on Friday (Ashish Kumar Saxena vs State of UP) The observation was made by a Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna while hearing an appeal against an order of the Allahabad High Court. "Do not cite a RTI reply. It is not very reliable as per our experience. If the letter ends with some other authority, the reply is something completely different," said Justice AM Khanwilkar. The order under challenge before the top court was in the context of a demolition process. The appellant told the Court that he has an RTI reply from the development authority saying that the master plan demarcates it as residential. However the bench was not inclined to accept the same. The appellants submitted that illegal demolition was carried out by the authorities in their privately owned land. The plea stated that the Gorakhpur Development Authority carried out demolition on their land and if the process is not stopped then six families with twenty-five persons in total, will lose their shelter. The appellant contended that as per information obtained under RTI, the concerned plot is reserved for the land use of residential and block park as per the master plan. "This information was also issued by GDA i.e. the act under the Urban Planning and Development act," argued the appellant. However, the top court asked the appellant not to rely on RTI replies. "Do not cite RTI documents," the Court reiterated. Advocate Udayaditya Banerjee represented the appellants. The case will now be taken up next in August. (Note: This is not a finding but stated as an ‘observation’ in proceedings) Source: Bar and Bench – Link: https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/rti-replies-not-very-reliable-do-not-cite-rti-documents-supreme-court-observes

The RTI Act came into force in 2005, lakhs of applications were received by public information officers, more than one lakh decisions were made at Information Commissions, atleast hundred judgments were delivered by High Courts and Supreme court on all exemption clauses 8 (1), and there is a ruling with more quality and reasons in all these decisions. Against this back ground, after 16 years, even when Government of India Ministries invent some reasons to reject/deny information not stated in RTI Act, citizen can only feel sorry and feel helpless, as FAA also toes in line with his PIOs mostly without application of mind. The DOPT that is entrusted with the responsibility has ignored their responsibility, when it is their duty to caution PIOs by printing a latest booklet with latest case laws so that stake holders can refer that as reference for supporting their submissions. It is shameful that when all such exemption claluses are well defined, still several second appeals are being filed before Information Commissions and the fortunate appellants may get opportunity of personal hearing after 3 years after filing second appeal. Even those IC decisions never impose any penalty and complete hearing process as a ritual without seriously warning PIOs for their poor knowledge and performance. This forum is an independent forum and runs with mutual guidance by members depending on their experience, and it is the responsibility of DOPT to implement your suggestion. Please file this grievance in pgrms in portal as grievance to DOPT and wait for their response. The forum more than a decade back treasured such decisions, judgments and good blogs to help the citizens. Please take some time and go through the hardwork by our veterans and as an independent forum this contribution is only possible, and if PIOs are not sincere in implementation, there is no use. It is utter failure of FAAs who ignore grounds of appeal and those submissions by appellants with earlier citations are being not looked into, as FAAs are not having accountability under RTI. This is the most disheartening to hear such denials without application of mind and once the IC takes serious action on PIOs for unlawful and malafide denial, there can never be such pending second appeals for decades.

You can go for first appeal on the following grounds to FAA. Grounds for Appeal: As per Sec. 7 (1) "reject the request for any of the reasons in Sec.8 and 9' alone. Further CPIO is as per Apex court decisions should state such clause with justification for applying that exemption clause. When there is no such exemption in Sec.8 or Sec.9, CPIO for his own reasons invented a clause "subjudice". Even in several judgments/decisions this issue was clarified that when a Court specifically prohibits such information, then only it becomes justified. Hence this first appeal for CPIOs unlawful and malafide rejection deliberately, after several clarifications. on this issue in 16 years of RTI Act. Sec.8 (1) (b) sates: Information which has been expressly forbidden to published by any court of law or tribunal or disclose of which may constitute contempt of court. CPIO has neither stated the reference in which any court expressly forbidden or justification as to how providing of information available in physical form as a record constitutes by contempt of court. The word "subjudice" was not stated in Sec. 8 (1) (3) as interpreted by learned CPIO of a GOI Ministry. PRAYER: Appellant prays for directions to CPIO for providing the information as expeditiously as possible free of cost and a special direction may be given to CPIO not to deny information by the exemption clauses invented by him and to deny information such exemptions as stated in Sec.8 (1) with justification and if possible with citations. If the court has stated not to disclose any information on the subject, CPIO may enclose such court order copy. CPIO may be provided with a reference book that explains the only sec 7 relevant to him or he may be sent to suitable training as such denials are a disgrace to GOI of Ministry, after 16 years RTI enactment.

It was held by Apex court that the performance/disciplinary proceedings in between employer and employee is in between them and there is no larger public interest involved. However corruption is against larger public interest as high sense of integrity and honesty is required in performance.of duties by public servants. You can seek such information first from ACB and seek the copies of all such reports against..........................designation....................caught red handed on...........................at ......................office of......................................in.....................(Place) if ACB is not an exempted organization. Equipped with the report you can seek the copy of inquiry report submitted by the IO to Disciplinary authority stating larger public interest as employee was caught red handed by ACB in corruption case. Or File applications both to ACB (not exempted) to employee's Disciplinary authority on certified copy of that letter/order basing on which reinstatement was made. Re-instatement need not be treated as employee was exonerated all the charges. ACB courts are different and you can even ask the court about the status of that court case filed against............................of......................dept., by ACB

There is customer grievance cell with every electric supply organizations. If not issue simple legal notice stating all your efforts and let it be sent by as many residents as possible, file on line complaint to District Consumer forum in larger public interest and this effort may not cost more than Rs.200/ in all if the party appears in person. Enclose the list of all affected consumers and enroll them as witnesses. The simple notice may bring wonders if there is adequate in media coverage. Maintain an authentic record of such high fluctuations as it must not be general but most be specific, date and timings for enclosing it to notice and presenting the facts with DF complaint.

I just found it relevant and tried to map it here sir. Yes many blog are present related to use of RTI those are useful. Thanks to all Counsellor for guiding the Newbie struggling for the Info.

This forum is already having such a Blog long back.

File RTI Application and seek same information from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs AP. Information solicited: 1.Please provide the requisites for getting recognition as Greater Municipal Corporation as per laid down policy/norms by AP Government. 2.Please provide specific reasons for not declaring VMC as Greater Vijayawada Municipal Corporation though the population has increased to the required level. 3.Please provide information on such request received from VMC and other people's representatives. 4.Please provide the status on such declaration of VMC as GVMC.

Perseverance is required in RTI, as many PIOs still think that they are parting with their personal treasures while performing statutory obligations. There is a good blog by late Sri JP Shah, in which he prepared a powerful and strong worded format quoting decisions of apex courts and SIC. Further course depends on the value of the information. You have not stated your efforts with the other Government authorities. Always post the query and reply by PIO so that may members may try to suggest alternate. If you have not sent copy of such complaint now enclose the same to FAA with a gentle and polite covering letter about insubordination through non compliance of IC orders, pointing out that when IC directed to file such fact through affidavit, sending a letter to applicant amounts to disobedience and request him to impress the PIO the necessity of complying with IC decision. Finally, it is writ in High court, that can bring remedy, if that information is important and useful.

Members can not guide on riddles. A PIO has either to provide that information available as material form in his records or deny information stating such clause in exemption under Sec.8 (1) with justification. The applicant has to provide basic reference like House No , Assessment No.....Ward No. Go for first appeal as providing either YES or No, and stating such tax paid to Municipality year wise since connection are not personal information at any stretch of wild imagination. The query is itself not proper. Please focus on real information alone for a particular period stating such year in specific. If they have list of total connections provided as a list in that format in that year, they must provide that list.

At present the Grievance procedure is only for name sake and there was no publishing of any remedy obtained by citizen if the Grievance is not redressed in a satisfactory manner. The accused himself judges and dismissed the grievance. If you are not happy with CIC decision, you have to file writ before Delhi HC against judgment. The incidents posted by you may be true but appears as absurd as Dy. Registrar hearing is unknown and without a reply from PIO closing a case without such information appears as absurd. The contents no where stated what was the exact query and what was PIO reply and FAA orders. The RTI is a journey and not a destination. If you want to find whereabouts of your wife entrust this to a private detective and within a week they can find whereabouts. If you have received copy of FIR, file application to the concerned PS and seek information on status of the FIR.

The unravelling of the mystery began when LIC agent Vipan Mittal from Faridkot got his 'test report' via a text message. The report was negative, But Mittal's reaction was more of shock than relief. His problem was that he had not even got tested for the virus. Mittal at first never thought the scam could be this huge. But after Uttarakhand's Health authorities were roped in and a large-scale investigation was carried out, it came to light that Mittal was just one case in about a lakh of bogus reports that were produced under a massive scam. Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/the-unravelling-of-indias-largest-covid-testing-scam-began-with-an-lic-agent-getting-an-sms/articleshow/83564045.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst