"3. Subject to the provisions of this Act, all citizens shall have the right to information."
Here the word citizen is given in pluralistic meaning. This section may have an overriding effect on other clauses. That was my interpretation. (may be foolishly) Apart from that digging into CIC website I came across some instances of CIC hearing cases with multiple appellants. Did they applied jointly? Or are clubbed later? Nevertheless this discussion has academic interest only, may have no practical utility considering the opinions expressed here. . Thanks to Sh. Manoj Pai and Sh. Suresh Nangia. Regards, Sidharth > >> Dear Shri Sidharth >> >> The Right to Information can be exercised by an individual in his > capacity as an Indian Citizen, and not collectivelly by a group of > persons joining together. Although it is not stated specifically so in > the Act in explicitly clear terms, the common understanding is that a > group of persons can not join together for filing of an applicatioin for > seeking information under RTI. This view point / such understanding of > the provision of RTI Act is reflelcted in Section 6 of the Act. As per > Sec 6(1) of the Act which describes procedure for seeking information, > it states that " A PERSON WHO DESIRES TO OBTAIN INFORMATION UNDER THE > ACT, SHALL MAKE A REQUEST IN WRITING OR THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEANS > ................." Proceeding further, Sec 6(2) states that "AN > APPLICANT MAKING A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ................".. It is > noteworthy to observe here that the focus in both the sub-sections is "A > PERSON" and "AN APPLICANT", which obviously would >> appear to convey that the Right to Information can be exercised by an > individual as a (Indain) Citizen. There is no known case of a group of > persons jooining together in filing of an application under RTI. >> >> Theoratically speaking, for the sake of argument only, even if a > group of persons join together in filing an application and PIO accepts > it, PIO cannot be expected to respond / write back to all persons in the > group, and his response for providing information or otherwise would > have to be addressed to one person in the group, which in all > reasonableness would be the first person named in the group. When all > persons forming the group would not be expecting and / or getting the > response, where is the utility of filing an application as a group. So > RTI application should be filed by an individual. Others in the group > who may be interested can file separate applications which all would be > responded. I hope, I have made the position clear. In case you need any > further clarification and / or you desire to discuss this aspect, you > are welcome to contact me >> >> S K NANGIA >> 093222 58038, 022 28677258 >> >> --- On Tue, 7/7/09, Sidharth sidharthb...@... wrote: >> >> >> From: Sidharth sidharthb...@... >> Subject: [rti_india] Is it OK to apply for information jointly.. >> To: [email protected] >> Date: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 4:29 PM >> >> Dear friend, >> >> I am facing a peculiar situation. Someone is asking me to know whether >> he can apply for information jointly (may be with his wife/Sister) . >> So Need clarification from this group. >> >> Is there any provision to seek information jointly or in groups ? >> >> If yes how many persons can join together and seek information in a >> single application ? >> >> Reg and thanks in advance. >> >> Sidharth Misra >> Cuttack, Orissa. >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
