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Puducherry

Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 (as applicable to Puducherry)

Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules 2005 notified by Central Government; Right to Information Appeal Rules, 2005 notified for Puducherry

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: 48 hours. Puducherry is a UT with legislature (elected assembly) and thus has its own public authorities under the RTI Act. The fee is Rs.10 payable by cash, court fee stamp, DD, banker's cheque, or IPO. IMPORTANT: The Puducherry State Information Commission (SIC) was abolished on 31 Jul 2007. As a UT, Puducherry cannot legally maintain an SIC. Second appeals now go to the Central Information Commission (CIC) in New Delhi. BPL applicants are exempt from all fees.

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 within the same department

2

Second appeal to the Central Information Commission (CIC) in New Delhi. Puducherry SIC was abolished 31 Jul 2007; UT cannot have an SIC.

Puducherry SIC abolished 31 Jul 2007. Second appeals go to the Central Information Commission (cic.gov.in). The Right to Information and Appeal Rules 2005 were notified by the Central Government for Puducherry.

Sources & References