Dear Friends, With reference to the Maharashtra Right to Information Rules, 2005, made by the Maharashtra (appropriate) government under section 27(2) of the RTI Act,
I have copy pasted below Rule 4 (1) (A) *(a) & (b)* of the said Rules, Rule 4(1): (A)(a) when the concerned Department has already fixed the price of some documents, maps, etc. The price so fixed* plus *postal charges. (b) when the information is readily available, either by way of photocopying, or by other way (copy). (i) rupees two for each page(in A-4 or A-3 size paper) created or* copied plus* postal charges; or (ii) actual charge or cost price of a copy in large size paper *plus*postal charges. It seems, use of the following words in Rule 4(1) is ambiguous and lacks clarity: "already fixed" in *Rule 4 (1) (A) (a), * "readily available", & "created" in *Rule 4 (1) (A) (b),* * In the event, when both the conditions occur simultaneously i.e. a PA has already fixed a price for a particular info and also the same is readily available for photocopying: * On one hand, a PA would invoke Rule 4 (1) (A) (a) if charges for the requested information are *already fixed* by them irrespective of whether the information is readily available for photocopying, * * Whereas on the other hand an applicant would invoke Rule 4 (1) (A) (b) suggesting that if the requested information *is readily available for photocopying*,(why charge more) then the prescribed A-4, A-3 or if larger than that, actual cost incurred for photocopying should be recovered, irrespective of the charges prescribed by the PA for the same. I think, a clarification from the Maharashtra General Administration Department (GAD) needs to be sought, with a request to issue a Memorandum / GR in this regard. Thanks, Sunil. -- It is not always the same thing to be a good man and a good citizen - Aristotle
