[HumJanenge] DoPT concedes on RTI Rules

Summary of latest status on DoPT's RTI Rules in reply to 3 RTIs and
after 1 decided first appeal.

FEES:
1) No change in RTI Application fee. It stays at Rs.10
2) First Appeal fees fixed at Rs 25 or Court Fee in concerned State
under Court Fee Act, whichever is higher.
3) Second Appeal fee to CIC fixed at Rs 250
NB: Third parties have been exempted from paying appeal fees.

COSTS:
1) Costs on hire of machinery, is prescribed for color photocopy
(Rs.20 per A3/A4 page) and scanning of documents (Rs. 5 per A3/A4
page)
2) Forwarding Cost u/s 6(3) is fixed at Rs.50 per transfer
3) Cost of issuing Third Party notice u/s 11 is fixed at Rs. 50 per notice.

FINES:
The CIC is being given powers to levy fines upto Rs. 10,000 on /
vexatious appellants as part of appeal procedure. It is not clear
which provision / section of RTI Act the DoPT intends to use to
justify this. We are planning to file 2nd appeal to CIC.