E-payment of Fees of RTI Applications

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 Information Officer of the "concerned public authority". Applicants are, therefore, advised to send their requests under the RTI Act to the Embassy only when the subject matter can reasonably be presumed to pertain to the Embassy. 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 Embassy, the application may be addressed to the concerned PIO directly.
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.). More information is available at https://rti.gov.in.The mailing address is: Embassy of India, P.O. Box No. 4090, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Applications seeking information under the Act may be sent along with the prescribed fee in UAE Dirhams, equivalent to Indian Rupees Ten (10) in cheque or demand draft favouring Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi.

Procedure

The RTI applicant is required to register on the website to create his/ her profile. Then he has to select the Ministry/ Department from whom he desires to seek information under the RTI Act. The e-IPO is generated which 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 sent in hard copy. In case RTI application is filed electronically, the e-IPO is enclosed as an attachment. The profile is required to be created during the first time only.

The RTI application accompanied by an e-IPO is similar in all respects to the RTI application accompanied by fees through any other approved mode. All the provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions etc.; as provided in the RTI Act, 2005 continue to apply.
Currently, this facility is available only for Indian Citizens living anywhere other than in India. By this measure, those living abroad would be facilitated to seek information under the RTI Act, 2005. It is hoped that in future, this facility would be extended to all citizens within the country too. Any public authority which accepts a postal order should also accept an e-IPO.

Payment of RTI fee online - Electronic Indian Postal Order (e-IPO)

Department of Personnel and Training, Department of Posts India has launched a service called "e-IPO" (Electronic Indian Postal Order) enabling Indian nationals living/based out of India seeking information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 from any Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs), by making an online payment of fees for the same. Online payment is possible by electronically purchasing an Indian Postal order (e-IPO), which can be purchased through e-Post Office Portal www.epostoffice.gov.init can also be accessed through India Post website www.indiapost.gov.in.   Debit and Credit cards can be used to purchase the e-IPOs.

 For this the user has to register him/her at the website.  He/ she has to select the Ministry/Department from whom he /she desires to seek the information under RTI Act and the e-IPO so generated could be used to seek information from the respective Ministry/Department. A printout of the e-IPO is required to be attached with the RTI application.  If the RTI application is filled electronically, e-IPO is required to be attached.   This facility is only for purchasing an IPO electronically. All the requirements for filling an RTI application as well as other provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions, etc., as provided in the RTI Act, 2005 will continue to apply.

12th January, 2020