General Information
Applications seeking information under the RTI Act, 2005 may be sent along with the prescribed fee in ZAR, equivalent to Indian Rs.10/- in cash/cheque or demand draft favouring High Commission of India, Pretoria. [The rate of exchange for a particular month may be ascertained from the High Commission].
It may be noted that information provided under the Act is available to citizens of India only. Applications should be submitted along with documentary proof of Indian Citizenship (like copy of personal particulars pages of passport.) Full text of the RTI Act can be viewed at the website: http://rti.gov.in
It may also be pointed out that as per section 6(1) (a) of the RTI Act, 2005, a person who desires to obtain information under the Act is required to submit the application to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the "concerned public authority". Applicants are, therefore, advised to send their requests under the RTI Act to the High Commission only when the subject matter can reasonably be presumed to pertain to the High Commission. While section 6(3) provides for the transfer of an application by a receiving PIO to another [concerned] PIO, this is clearly meant to cover situations where the application is addressed to a PIO on the assumption that it has been directed to the concerned PIO. Where the information required obviously does not pertain to the High Commission, the application may be addressed to the concerned PIO directly.
Facility of e-IPO for payment of fee under the RTI Act, 2005
The Department of Personnel and Training and Department of Posts have launched a service called e-IPO (Electronic Indian Postal Order) to enable Indian Citizens residing in India or abroad to purchase an Indian Postal Order electronically by paying fee on-line through e-Post Office Portal i.e. http://www.epostoffice.gov.in, to enable them to seek information under the RTI Act, 2005. It can also be accessed through India Post Website, i.e. www.indiapost.gov.in An e-IPO so generated must be used only once with an RTI application.
The User needs to get himself registered at the website. He has to select the Ministry/Department from whom he desires to seek the information under the RTI Act and the e-IPO so generated can be used to seek information from that Ministry/Department only. A printout of the e-IPO is required to be attached with the RTI application. If the RTI application is being filed electronically, e-IPO is required to be attached as an attachment. For more details please visit the websitehttp://www.epostoffice.gov.in
This facility is only for purchasing an Indian Postal Order electronically. All the requirements for filing an RTI application as well as other provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions, etc. will continue to apply.
