It has come to light that only 27 per cent applicants get information under Right to Information from government offices as many hurdles remain in the way of citizens accessing information. One of the hurdles invented by the Central government establishments, such as, Banks, Post Office, Railways, MTNL etc., is non-acceptance of Rs. 10 court fee stamp as the RTI fees. The other modes of payment by way of money order, postal order, demand draft, etc, are time consuming and cost more. The Central Information Commissioner needs to issue guidelines for acceptance of court fee stamps by all offices.
(The writer can be contacted at J/A-403, BEST Officers’ Qtrs., New Best Colony, Goregaon (West), Mumbai-400 104)
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