Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 mandates timely response to citizens’ requests for government information. It is an initiative taken by the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions to provide an RTI Portal Gateway to the citizens for quick search of information on the details of first Appellate Authorities, PIOs, etc. amongst others, besides access to RTI related information / disclosures published on the web by various Public Authorities under the government of India as well as the State Governments.

Objective of the Right to Information Act

The basic object of the Right to Information Act is to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Government, contain corruption, and make our democracy work for the people in real sense. It goes without saying that an informed citizen is better equipped to keep necessary vigil on the instruments of governance and make the government more accountable to the governed. The Act is a big step towards making the citizens informed about the activities of the Government.

Who can Apply for Information under RTI Act?

1. Any Indian citizen can obtain information about any public authority, including documents and records by applying to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of that Authority.

2. An applicant has to pay an application fee of Rs. 10/- with the application.

3. The information will be made available on payment of cost as follow :

Description of Information	Price / Fees in Rupees
Fee along with Application	Rs. 10 per application
Where the information is available in the form of priced publication	On printed price
For other than priced publication	Rs. 2 per page of A-4 size or smaller and actual cost subject to minimum of Rs. 2/- per page in case of larger size
Where information is Available in electronic Floppy and CD etc.	Rupees 50/- per Floppy and Rs. 100/- per CD
Fee for inspection of record / Document	Rs. 20 per 30 minutes or fraction thereof

• Payment is to be made by Treasury Challan/Bank draft/Indian Postal Order.
• BPL {Below Poverty Line} persons need not pay the application fee or any additional fee.
• In case a request for the information is refused or the request is not properly responded, an appeal can be filed with the Appellate Authority within 30 days. A second appeal lies with the State Information Commission within 90 days.
• There are no fees for appeals.


• Information can be refused only on the following grounds:
  • Information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the Security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the States relation with forging State or lead to incitement of an offence.
  • Information which has been expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court.
  • Information, the disclosure of which would cause a branch of privilege of Parliament or the State legislature.
  • Information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information.
  • Information available to a person in his fiduciary relationship, unless the competent authority is satisfied that the larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information.
  • Information received in confidence from foreign Government.
  • Information the disclosure of which would enlarge the life of physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes.
  • Information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension precaution of offenders.
  • Cabinet papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries and other officers.
  • Information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the Appellate Authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies, the disclosure of such information.
  • Provided that the information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislative shall not be denied to any person.

Authority	Name	Designation	Complete Office addres	Phone number	E-mail
Appellant Authority	Sanjeev Sood (HAS)	Addl. Director(Admn.)	Directorate of Higher Education, Shimla, HP	0177-2658052, 94180-90444	admin-hredu-hp@gov.in
Public Information Officer (PIO)	Dr. Naresh Verma	Principal	Govt. Degree College Kumarsain, Distt. Shimla	01782-241930	principalgcksain@gmail.com