Right to Information

The following Rules are applicable under the Maharashtra Right to Information Act, 2002
(31 of 2003)

As per Section 21 of the said Act

 RULES UNDER THE ORDINANCE

Dated the 25th September 2002

NOTIFICATION

MAHARASHTRA RIGHT TO INFORMATION ORDINANCE, 2002

No RTI. 2002/C.N.89/2002/5 . - In exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (1) of section

 1. Short title - These rules may be called the Maharashtra Right to Information Rules, 2002.

 2. Definitions - 1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires

(a) " Annexure ,, means the Annexures appended to these rules ;

( b ) Ordinance means the Maharashtra Right to Information Ordinance, 2002 (Mah. Ord. X of
2002);

(c) "Lokayukta" means Lokayukta of the Maharashtra State appointed under section 3 of the
Maharashtra Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1971 (Mah. XLVI of 1971);

(d) ``Upa-Lokayukta'' means Upa-Lokayukta of the Maharashtra State appointed under section 4
of the Maharashtra Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1971 (Mah. XLVI of 1971).

(2) Words and expressions used in these rules but not defined shall have the same meanings
respectively, assigned to them, in the Ordinance.

3. Procedure for designating Public Information Officers - (1) The Competent Authority shall
designate one or more of its officers as the Public Information Officer for each or all its
administrative units and offices under him at various levels like Village, Taluka, Sub-Division,
District and Regional Division.

(2) The Competent Authority shall display or cause to be displayed at prominent place in the
premises of every office or unit of offices under him the details of the concerned Public
Information Officer such as the name, designation and address, etc.
4. Preparation of list of Public Information Officers - (1) Every Competent Authority shall
prepare a list of all the Public Information Officers designated by him from time to time.

(2) The list shall also contain the names, designations, addresses and the administrative units
and offices under such authority.

(3) The list prepared by the. Competent Authority under sub-rule (1) shall be kept available for
information of general public.

5. Appellate authority - (1) Every appeal under section 11 of the Ordinance shall lie to the
concerned Competent Authority mentioned in clause (3) of section 2 of the Ordinance or to the
Officer or Officers authorised by him, by general or special order issued in this behalf, for the
purposes of this Ordinance.

(2) The Competent Authority, shall authorise its officers as the appellate authorities under clause
(1) of section 2 of the Ordinance, generally in the following manner, namely :-

i) the first appeal against the decisions of all the village and taluka level Public Information
Officers may be preferred t o the Sub-Division level officer ;

(ii)the first appeal against the decisions of Sub-Division level Public Information Officers may be
preferred to the District levelofficer ;

(iii) the first appeal against the decisions of the District level Public Information Officers may be
preferred t o the Regional or Divisional level officer ;

(iv) the first appeal against the decisions of the Regional or Divisional level Public Information
Officers may be preferred to the Head of the concerned Department ;

(v ) the first appeal against the decisions of the Public Information Officers at the level of the
Administrative Department may be preferred to the Head of the concerned Administrative
Department.

6. Procedure for seeking information - (1) Any person desirous of obtaining information as
provided under the provisions of the Ordinance shall, apply to the concerned Public Information
Officer on plain paper in the format given in Annexure ‘A ’ by affixing a court fee stamp of rupees
ten.

(2) The Public Information Officer on receiving the application under sub-rule (1) shall, subject t o
the provisions of sections 7 and 8, call and compile the requisite information and shall, also
assess the amount of fees which will be required to be paid by the applicant as per sub-rule (3).

(3) After the Public Information Officer has compiled the requisite information, he shall send an
intimation to the applicant in the format given in Annexure ‘ B ’ within a period of fifteen days from
the date of receipt of the application informing him the amount of fees payable by him as per the
Schedule appended to these rules, for the supply of such information to him by the Public
Information Officer and the date by which he should make the payment and collect the
information.

(4)If the information sought for by the applicant cannot be supplied without the assistance of an
employee or officer, and such employee or officer fails to supply the required information or to
render the assistance within the period specified in sub-section (2)of section 6, then such
employee, or as the case may be, the officer [being the person covered by clause (7) of section 2
of the ordinance], shall be liable for penalty under the Ordinance.

( 5 ) The applicant shall pay the requisite fees as informed by the Public Information Officer either
by way of money order or by making cash payment in the office of the concerned Public
Information Officer or make payment in the Treasury.

(6) The amount of fees received from the applicants by the Public Information Officers shall be
deposited in the budget head No. "0070-Other Administrative Services, 60-Other Services, 800 -
0ther receipts, (18)-Right to Information Ordinance, 2002 (0070-016-1)"

(7) On receiving of the payment or on receiving the copy of chalan showing payment of fee in
treasury, the Public Information Officer shall forthwith supply the information to the applicant
either in person or by post.

7 . Procedure for filing an appeal - (1 ) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Public
Information Officer under sub-section (3) of section 6 may, prefer an appeal to the concerned
appellate authority on plain paper in the format given in Annexure C ", affiing a court fee stamp of
rupees twenty, with a copy of such order.

(2) Every order passed by the appellate authority shall be communicated to the appellant
concerned and also to the Public Information Officer against whose order the appeal preferred.

(3) Any person aggrieved by an order of the appellate authority under sub-section (2) of section
11 may, prefer an appeal t o the Lokayukta or Upa-Lokayukta, as the case may be, on plain
paper in the format given in Annexture " D ", affixing a court fee stamp of rupees twenty, with a
copy of such order.

( 4) The Lokayukta or Upa-Lokayukta, as the case may be, after giving the person or persons
affected a reasonable opportunity of being heard, pass such order as he may deem fit.

(5) Every order of the Lokayukta or Upa-Lokayukta, as the case may be, shall be communicated
to the appellant concerned and also to the appellate authority against whose order the appeal
was preferred.

8. Maintenance of register by Public Information Officer - Every Public Information Officer

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Annexture A
[See rule 6(1)]
Format of Application form under
the Maharashtra Right of Information Rules, 2002
Affix court fee stamp of Rs 10
 
To
 
The Public Information Officer,
(Name of the office with address)
 
 
(1) Full name of the applicant
(2) Address
(3) Particulars of information required, -
     (i) Subject matter of information:
     (ii) The period to which the information relates.#
     (iii) Description of the information required $
     (iv) Whether information is required by post or in person
          (The actual postal charges shall be included in additional fees).
      (v) In case by post (Ordinary, Registered or Speed).
     (vi) Purpose for which the information is required.
 
 
Signature of the applicant.
 
Place
Date
 
 
* Broad category of the subject to be indicated (such as grant of Government Iand/ Service
matters/ Licenses etc.)
# Relevant period for which information is required to be indicated.
$ Specific details of the information is required to be indicated.
 
 
 **************************************
 
ANNEXURE -B
[See rule 6(3)]
 
From. .............. ,
 
Designation of the Public Information Officer.
 
To
 
(Name of the applicant)
Address of the applicant.
 
Sir,
Please refer to your application dated.. ........................ addressed to the undersigned requesting
information on.. .......................... The above information is ready to be supplied to you. The
additional fee for supplying this information to you is Rs ............................
You are requested t o pay the fee at this Office or send a money order or make payment in a
Government Treasury and send a copy of the chalan to this office and collect the information.
The amount of fees shall be deposited in the budget head No. " 0070- Other Administrative
Services, 60-Other Services, 800-Other receipts, (18)-Right t o Information Ordinance, 2002
(0070-016-1)".
Please make the payment on or before ...............................
Public Information Officer.
 
*************************************** 
  
ANNEXURE-C
[See rule 7 (1)]
 
Affix court fee stamp of Rs 20
Appeal under section l l ( 1 ) of the Maharashtra Right to Information Ordinance,2002.
 
From : ..............................
(Applicant's name and address)
 
To : .................................
(Name/designation/address of the appellate authority)
 
 
1. Full name of the Appellant
 
(2) Address  
(3) Particulars of the Public Information Officer.  
(4) Date of receipt of the order appealed against.
(5) Last date for filing the appeal
(6) Particulars of information -
    (i) Nature and subject matter of the information required.  
    (ii) Name of the office or Department to which the information relates :  
    (iii) Purpose for which the information is required.
    (iv) The grounds for appeal
 
DECLARATION
I, ............................................... (Name of the appellant), son of/ daughter of/wife of
........................................ hereby declare that the particulars furnished in the appeal are t o the
best of my knowledge and belief, true and correct and that I have not suppressed any material
fact.
 
Signature of the Appellant.
Place
Date
To ............................................. (Name and address of Appellate authority).
 
 **************************************
 
ANNEXURE-D
[See rule 7(3)1
Appeal under section 11(3) of the
Maharashtra Right to Information Ordinance, 2002.
From ............................
(Applicant's name and address)
 
To .....................................
(Lokayukta, Maharashtra State)
 
(1).Full name of the Appellant
(2) Address
(3) Particulars of the Appellate authority :
(4) Date of receipt of the order appealed against:
(5) Last date for filing the appeal
(6) Particulars of Information-
    (i) Nature and subject matter of the information required: 
    (ii) Name of the Office or Department to which the information relates :
    (iii) Purpose for which the information is required.
    (iv) the grounds for appeal
 
 
Signature of Appellant.
 
Place
Date
DECLARATION
I ................................................ (Name of the appellant), son of /daughter of/ wife of
.................................... hereby declare that the particulars furnished in the appeal are to the best
of my knowledge and belief, true and correct and that I have not suppressed any material fact.
Signature of the Appellant.
Place
Date
To.. .......................................... .(Lokayukta, Maharashtra State).
 
 *******************************************
 
SCHEDULE
See Rule 6 (3)
Serial No; Description of the Document; Fees in Rupees (in that order)
 
1 When the concerned department has already fixed the price of some documents, map, etc.
The price so fixed+Postage charges (unless collected personally).
 
2. When the information is readily available either by Xeroxing, copying or by other way (copy)
0.50 Paisa per page + Postage charges (unless collected personally). .
 
3. If the information is not readily available and needs to be collected.
Rs. 2 Per page + Postage charges
(unless collected personally).
 
 
By order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra,
GOPALCHANDRA TRIPATHY,
Principal Secretary to Government.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
Mantralaya, Mumbai 400 032, dated the 25th September 2002
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NOTIFICATION
MAHARASHTRA RIGHT TO INFORMATION ORDINANCE, 2002.
No. RTI. 2002/C.N.B9/2002/5.
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 2 of the Maharashtra Right to
Information Ordinance, 2002 (Mah. Ord. X of 20021, the Government of
Maharashtra hereby constitute the following Committee, namely :- I
( a ) Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department …. Chairman
( b ) Principal Secretary and Special Enquiry Officer (2)
General Administration Department …… Member
(c) Principal Secretary or Secretary (Legislation) ... Member
Law and Judiciary Department …… Member
By order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra,
GOPALCHANDRA TRIPATHY,
Principal Secretary to Government.