Govt simplifies e-filing of RTI pleas, allows web-based payment

New Delhi: Filing RTI applications will now become easier with the government extending e-filing of petitions to more departments and enabling people to pay through web-based payment gateway. After launching the facility for department of personnel and training (DoPT) recently, this will be extended to nearly half a dozen departments including road transport and highways ministry on June 3. 

    DoPT has already launched a portal, rtionline.gov.in, to file RTI applications/first appeals online along with payment gateway. Payment can be made through internet banking of SBI and its associate banks and debit/credit cards of Master/Visa. Through this portal, RTI applications/first appeals can be filed for the main ministries/departments of central government located in the national capital. 
    After filing their applications, citizens can track the status and will also get online reply from the ministries/departments. However, the website mentions that such applications should not be filed for other public authorities under central/state governments through this portal. This includes the entire Delhi government. According to sources, DoPT officials told the highway ministry on Thursday that the number of RTI applications has increased manifold since the facility was started. While RTI activist Subhash Agrawal welcomed the initiative, he said the service will have practical limitations because of public authorities being in large numbers apart from government departments and ministries. "System should be formulated whereby there may be sub-options for undertakings after main options of departments and ministries controlling these undertakings," he said.