A first: File RTI applications online in UT

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, December 5

City residents wishing to seek information from any of the UT department under the RTI Act can now submit application online.

UT Administrator-cum-Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore today launched the ‘RTI online’ portal for Chandigarh making it the first state/UT in the country to have the facility.

Speaking on the occasion, Badnore said, “The RTI is the key to strengthening participatory democracy and ushering in people-oriented governance. Access to timely information empowers even the weakest sections of the society and enables them to get information about policies and actions, thereby leading to their welfare.”

UT Adviser Parimal Rai said the RTI was a unique way to promote good governance by bringing in transparency, accountability, predictability and participation. 

“We have provided citizens with two tools – air grievances online and seek information online. These have empowered them. I am sure all of us working towards a better governance environment in the UT would be able to meet citizens’ expectations,” he added.

Also present on the occasion were Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Finance Secretary-cum-Secretary, Information Technology, Jitender Yadav, Special Secretary, IT, and Arjun Sharma, Director, IT.

More than 70 departments and offices under the Chandigarh Administration, including the Municipal Corporation and the Chandigarh Housing Board, would be accessible under the new RTI online system.

Citizens would have the option of paying the RTI application fee through debit or credit card and SBI netbanking. The RTI fees will be waived for applicants coming under the below poverty line (BPL) category. 

RTI online portal has been developed keeping in view various provisions of the RTI Act-2005. 

How to go about it

Citizens can access the portal https://rtionline.gov.in/ and need to select ‘UT of Chandigarh’ from the list of ministries and departments. Thereafter, the applicant can select the UT department from which the information is being sought.