Open Records Laws › India › Telangana

Telangana

Telangana Right to Information Rules, 2005 (inherited from Andhra Pradesh RTI Rules 2005)

Adopted from AP RTI Rules 2005 upon bifurcation per Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014; Telangana SIC constituted GO 13-09-2017

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. Telangana was bifurcated from Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014 under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The state continued applying the AP Right to Information (Regulation of Fees and Cost) Rules, 2005. Telangana Information Commission (TGIC) constituted 13 Sep 2017.

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)

Telangana Information Commission (TGIC) at tsic.gov.in. Constituted by GO dated 13 Sep 2017.

Sources & References