Giving RTI info e-way: Supreme Court asks centre, states to decide

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the centre and all the states to take a decision on a plea seeking setting up of a mechanism to provide information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act through ‘electronic’ means.

‘It appears the petitioner has filed the representations with the authorities. It seems, as of now, no decision has been taken. We direct the respondents (states and UTs) to take a decision within three weeks,’ a bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice AK Sikri said.

Disposing of a PIL filed by Madhya Pradesh-based lawyer Rajeev Agrawal in his personal capacity, the bench said the plea be treated as a representation by the states and union territories and a decision be taken within three weeks.

The plea, filed through lawyer Amit Kumar, had sought a direction to all the states and the UTs to create ‘centralised RTI websites for submission of RTI requests’ and allow online filing of appeals and payment of fees by using Internet in respect of every public authority of the government under the transparency law.