RTI activists applaud Supreme Court order regarding application fee

A recent order of the Supreme Court has become a talking point and is being hailed by RTI activists and advocacy groups. Among other things, it is being welcomed for cementing the RTI Act's precedence over court rules and rules made by any competent authority, which were often alleged to be in conflict with the RTI Act.

The order given by Justice AK Goel and Justice Uday Lalit on March 20, 2018, made headlines for setting a maximum RTI application fee of Rs 50 and charges for information.

The other rights that citizens felt were in conflict and now stand vindicated are — citizens getting information even if the matter is being adjudicated by the court under RTI unless exempted under the Act, not seeking motive of application, permission of the chief justice or judge to disclose information only in respect of information which is exempted under the scheme of the Act, which, advocacy groups say, limits exemption to give info only under RTI.

Section 22 of the landmark transparency Act states that it shall have overriding effect over Official Secrets Act and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act.

Citizens accused ways of secrecy and not providing information being re-introduced through rules that were allowed to be framed under RTI Act, but were not in consonance with it. High court rules or rules made by any other competent authority will now have to be in consonance with RTI Act and denial of information will have to be only through the Act.