Subject: Mode of payment of fee for seeking information under RTI Act, 2005 from M/o Road Transport and Highways — clarification regarding.
Decision:
The mode of payment as per the said rule is very clear, however, due to different account officer/accounts etc. issue of non-acceptance has arisen. The Commission observes that such issue is of non-acceptance can lead to delay in furnishing a reply to the applicant and that uniformity in this regard would further ease the process under RTI Act for the applicant’s. The Commission is of the view that steps shall be taken by the respondent public authority to clarify this issue for avoiding delay or account of non-acceptance of postal-order/s.”
i) As per note 2 below rule 18 of Central Govt, Account Receipts and Payments Rules, such instruments being accepted by departmental officer not having cheque drawing powers, should be drawn in favour (indicating official designation) of the concerned Pay and Accounts Officers. However, when cheques or bank drafts are received in the name of departmental office’s under any Act or rule or otherwise, these may be endorsed by them for payment to their respective Pay and Accounts Officers.
ii) In the light of the above, such demand drafts/bankers cheques IPOs for the payment of fee for seeking information under the Right to Information Act can be drawn by the information seekers in favour of Pay and Accounts Officer(Sectt), Ministry of Road Transport & Highways or Accounts Officer, Ministry of Road Traisport & Highways.
COMMENTS