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Odisha

Odisha Right to Information Rules, 2005

Odisha Government Gazette; as amended by Orissa RTI (Amendment) Rules, 2006

Open Records Transparency: 41/100 (moderate) Transparency Score: 41/100

Response Timeline

Initial Response
30 days

30 days under RTI Act 2005, s.7(1). Life or liberty requests: 48 hours (s.7(1) proviso). If information from a third party: 40 days. BPL applicants are exempt from all fees. Cash is the only payment mode specified in Rule 4(1)(b) of the 2006 Amendment Rules, though SCIC Odisha has directed SPIOs to also accept IPO and money orders.

Exemptions

  • Security
    Information affecting sovereignty, integrity, security, or relations with foreign states (s.8(1)(a))
  • Contempt
    Information expressly forbidden by court or which would constitute contempt (s.8(1)(b))
  • Parliament
    Information whose disclosure is prohibited by Parliament/Legislature (s.8(1)(c))
  • Cabinet
    Cabinet papers including deliberations of the Council of Ministers (s.8(1)(i))
  • Commercial confidence
    Trade secrets or commercial confidence causing competitive harm (s.8(1)(d))
  • Fiduciary
    Information held in fiduciary capacity (s.8(1)(e))
  • Foreign govt
    Information received in confidence from a foreign government (s.8(1)(f))
  • Law enforcement
    Information that would impede investigation, prosecution, or fair trial (s.8(1)(g),(h))
  • Personal privacy
    Personal information with no public interest justification (s.8(1)(j))

Exemptions mirror RTI Act 2005 ss.8-9. Notwithstanding any exemption, information that cannot be denied to Parliament/Legislature cannot be denied to a citizen (s.8(2)). Public interest override applies (s.8(2)).

Appeal Process

1

Appeal to First Appellate Authority (senior officer) within same department

First Appellate Authority must decide within 30 days (extendable to 45 days with reasons)

2

Second appeal to the State Information Commission (SIC)

SIC may impose penalty of Rs.250/day on erring SPIO, up to Rs.25,000 maximum (s.20)

Odisha Information Commission, Block B1, Toshali Bhawan, Satyanagar, Bhubaneswar-751007. Constituted under s.15(1) RTI Act vide Gazette 11 Oct 2005.

Sources & References