Dear Karira
Section 4(1)(a) is a purely facilitative clause.(ie no extra right to
info is created / conferred by it) and means precisely
"Every public authority shall maintain all its records duly catalogued
and indexed in a manner and the form which facilitates the right to
information under this Act ", AND
"Every public authority shall ensure that all records that are
appropriate to be computerised are computerised and connected through
a network all over the country on different systems so that access to
such records is facilitated"
NB:
1) because "within a reasonable time and subject to availability of
resources" is within commas it has no bearing on our core dispute (and
at best are mitigating factors for non-compliance). Section 1(3) is
important here, because it sets the time frame.
2) Because of the terms "ALL" and "AND" the P/A is first required to
"maintain" and index/catalogue ALL its records to facilitate the
"right to information" (this also includes maintaining information
already in electronic form) . Since section 3 has already clariified
that "subject to the provisions of this Act, all citizens shall have
the right to information", the first part of 4(1)(a) concerns the
citizens right to information (which is defined in 2(j) to mean "right
to information accessible under this Act which is held by or under the
control of any public authority"). So by this part of the clause the
obligation is cast upon P/As to maintain, index and catalogue ALL
records held by or under their control so as to aid (facilitate) the
citizen to effectively exercise his right to information.
IMPORTANT: This part of 4(1)(a) does not oblige the P/A to computerise
even a single record of theirs to aid a citizen ether to obtain or be
provided any information in electronic form. Also,
Section 9 of IT Act 2008 says "Nothing contained in sections 6, 7 and
8 shall confer a right upon any person to insist that any Ministry or
Department of the Central Government or the State Government or any
authority or body established by or under any law or controlled or
funded by the Central or State Government should accept, issue,
create, retain and preserve any document in the form of electronic
records or effect any monetary transaction in the electronic form."
Since this is a later Act, RTI Act does not over-ride it.
3) Once a P/A maintains (ie. preserves / weeds out), indexes and
catalogues its records, the second part of 4(1)(a) requires it to
computerise "such" (ie. only those) records which are APPROPRIATE to
aid (facilitate) ACCESS to information.over a network of different
computers within India Although the term access is not defined in RTI
act, it is defined in the Information Technology Act.
4) Since the network of computers is mandated to only be WITHIN INDIA,
the usage of the internet is ruled out for "such: records". The
network referred to is obviously (considering present state of the
art) secure Govt networks (LANS / WANS / VSATs etc.) to bring about
transparency and accountability in the P/A.and facilitate PIOs to
ACCESS (as defined in IT act) appropriate comnputerised records of the
P/A to service their obligations u/s 6, 7, 8 etc . The true
significance of this clause means that the PIO must be a officer with
sufficient seniority and high level of information access clearance.
This aspect is clarified by 4(4) which says "the information should be
easily ACCESSIBLE, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE in electronic format with
the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information
Officer, either at cost of medium (ie floppy / CD/ tapes / cassettes /
pen drive etc) or prescribed "print cost" (like Rs. 2 per A4 page) or
else FREE". Previously 2(j)(iv) has defined the forms the citizen can
OBTAIN electronic information in.
5) Furthermore, since section 4(3) says that EVERY information of
4(1) is to be widely disseminated and easily accessible to the
public.does section 4(1)(a) require that EVERY record of the P/A be
computerised so as to be widely disseminated and easily accessible to
the public ? The answer of course is NO !! Only sections 4(1)(b), and
(c) [not (a) or (d)] specify what the P/A is obliged to disseminate
(publish) under 4(1).
7) Section 8(1) for example says "NOTWITHSTANDING ...blah blah).
Section 9 allows a PIO to reject a request to access information.
Section 10 allows a PIO to selectively supply information. Section 3
allows a PIO to deny information to non-Indians, The net result is
that Section 4 is about "accessing" information (ie. the informal way)
- the rest of the RTI Act is about "obtaining" information.(ie. by a
formal request / procedure at prescribed fess ) via the PIOs. So in
short 4(1)(a) is only about computerising those appropriate ("such")
records required to facilitate every PIOs access to information
maintained across the P/A and which is entirely (and necessarily)
left up to the P/A's parent law(s) or its discretion
Sarbajit
On 6/27/10, C K Jam <rtiwanted@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Dear Sarbajit,
>
> It is you who has the blinkers on (and ear plugs too)
> As usual, your ears hear only what you say and your eyes read only what you
> write !
>
> "1) Section 4(1)(a) does not make it obligatory for P/As to computerise
> the records. It enables them to do so if they are so inclined.
>
>>Do not agree to that interpretation.
>
>> Sec 4(1)(a) is preceded by a sentence containing the word "shall".
>
>>
>
>> Therefore every public authority has to computerise :
>
>>
>
>> - those records which are appropriate to be computerised
>
>> - within a reasonable time
>
>> - subject to availability of resources
>
> The "shall" is for both parts of Sec 4(1)(a). However, the part about
> "computerise" is qualified with the three factors mentioned above. Where is
> the "inclination" ?
>
> =========
> The Delhi High Court's order has thrown out all those arguments of CIC
> being able to award "compensation" in its decision. You have also not
> read section 19(8) and 18(1) carefully.
>
> This is what I said...and you have not read it:
>
>> Also remember, as per CIC (and quoted in a DoPT circular), a
> appellant/complainant can seek compensation from the PA, under Sec
> 19(8), if the PA has not adhered to the mandate in Sec 4(1)(a).
>
>> Anyone wants to try seeking compensation from CIC itself, on this
> count ?
>
> Do you mean to say that DoPT and CIC are also silly RTI activists ?
>
> ==========
>
> Regarding IC ANT, he still thinks he is sitting on that high back chair
> covered with the ubiquitous white terry towel. Please leave him alone to
> fight his lonely battle with fellow ICs and CIC.
>
> RTIwanted
>
>
>
> --- On Sun, 6/27/10, sarbajitr <sroy1947@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> From: sarbajitr <sroy1947@yahoo.com>
> Subject: [rti_india] Re: Another example of why Habibullah is a puppet for
> special interests.
> To: rti_india@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Sunday, June 27, 2010, 1:13 PM
>
>
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> Dear Karira
>
>
>
> I don't know if they still have tongas (victorias) in Secunderabad. The way
> the tanga-wallah controls thehorse and gets him to serve his purpose is to
> put "blinkers" over his eyes and only focus the eyes on
>
> where he wants the horse to go.
>
>
>
> Similarly all the RTI activists are only looking at section 4(1)(a) in
> isolation and trying to teach me the Act.
>
>
>
> The Delhi High Court's order has thrown out all those arguments of CIC being
> able to award "compensation" in its decision. You have also not read section
> 19(8) and 18(1) carefully.
>
>
>
> I have only made 2 small points (repeated below). You (too) may tell me
> precisely what is wrong with these statements. I am not influenced by
> decisions of IC(T), but concede that he can read the RTI Act almost as well
> as I can. The first part of 4(1)(a) IS obligatory in itself, the 2nd part is
> not but left to the discretion of the P/A.
>
>
>
> "1) Section 4(1)(a) does not make it obligatory for P/As to computerise the
> records. It enables them to do so if they are so inclined.
>
>
>
> 2) You can "request" information in form of diskettes only when it is
>
> stored on a computer or other device - not because the information is
>
> voluminous and would pinch your pocket."
>
>
>
> For eg. (and this is a very trivial example to slightly adjust your depth of
> field), I don't know if you have noticed, whereas the first part of 4(1)(a)
> requires every P/a to maintain ALL its records duly indexed and catalogued
> to facilitate THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION, the second part only speaks of
> facilitating ACCESS to SUCH (ie. truncated subset) records and is also
> precedent upon the first part being completed.
>
>
>
> Sarbajit
>
>
>
> --- In rti_india@yahoogroups.com, C K Jam <rtiwanted@...> wrote:
>
>>
>
>> Mr Sarbajit,
>
>>
>
>> Do not agree to that interpretation.
>
>> Sec 4(1)(a) is preceded by a sentence containing the word "shall".
>
>>
>
>> Therefore every public authority has to computerise :
>
>>
>
>> - those records which are appropriate to be computerised
>
>> - within a reasonable time
>
>> - subject to availability of resources
>
>>
>
>> Where did you get the "inclination" part from ?
>
>>
>
>> It seems you are being influenced by IC ANT's famous (and absurd) order
>> which said that the entire Sec 4 is not obligatory !
>
>>
>
>> By the way, as far as funds (one of the "resources") are concerned, DoPT
>> had issued a Memo way back in 2007, based on the recommendations of the
>> second ARC, for specific provision in the budget for such a purpose.
>
>> Wonder whatever happened to that ?
>
>>
>
>> Also remember, as per CIC (and quoted in a DoPT circular), a
>> appellant/complainant can seek compensation from the PA, under Sec 19(8),
>> if the PA has not adhered to the mandate in Sec 4(1)(a).
>
>> Anyone wants to try seeking compensation from CIC itself, on this count ?
>
>>
>
>> RTIwanted
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> --- On Sun, 6/27/10, sarbajitr <sroy1947@...> wrote:
>
>>
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>> From: sarbajitr <sroy1947@...>
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>> Dear Bhaskar
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>> 1) Section 4(1)(a) does not make it obligatory for P/As to computerise the
>> records. It enables them to do so if they are so inclined.
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