Can professionals seek information?
12 Dec, 2011In one of the bizzare incidents of its kind, an applicant in Rajasthan has been reported to have been refused information claiming that "the desired information under section 3 of the Act can be given to Indians only. No organization, pratisthan, etc. can apply for application. So it is not possible to provide information to you." The PIO is alleged to have claimed that there was a court decision whereby professionals like advocate cannot be provided information under RTI as they could use it in their profession. The PIO has been reported to have said that only the common people of India can seek information under RTI, not professionals like advocates.
Such incidents indicate that ignorance about the RTI Act is rampant and many, if not most, PIOs are yet not aware of the provisions of the Act. Such lack of knowledge not only leads to unnecessary appeals and penalty, but also opacity in the working.