HC: ID proof mandatory for getting information RTI
9 Jan, 2013The Punjab and Haryana High Court, while disposing off a case between Fruit and Merchant union, Amritsar and the State Information Commission (SIC), Punjab has ruled that the citizens have to attach the copies of their identity proofs along with the application for seeking information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. [C.W.P. No. 4787 of 2011]
The High Court found that in many cases, the RTI applicants were not identifiable and hence the step was necessary to ensure that only the genuine persons get the information. Justice Rajesh Bindal has issued directions for sending a copy of the order to the Central Information Commission, New Delhi and the State Information Commission, Haryana and the Chandigarh home secretary for compliance.
It is worthwhile to note that the RTI Act, 2005 does not have any specific provision for submission of any documents as a proof of identity or citizenship while filing the RTI application. Further, there seems to have been no study conducted to see the percentage of cases where the applicant is not genuine or how enclosing the copy of the identity proof can avoid the problem.