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CS Executive · Jurisprudence, Interpretation and General Laws · Right to Information Law

A Central Public Information Officer in a ministry asks a finance section officer for certain records needed to answer an RTI request. The finance officer supplies them only after long delay, causing the reply to be late. Under section 5, how is the finance officer treated for any contravention of the Act?

The finance officer is treated as a Central Public Information Officer for the purposes of any contravention of the Act. Section 5(5) requires an officer whose assistance is sought to render all assistance, and makes that officer answerable like the Public Information Officer.

  1. AAs a Central Public Information Officer for the purposes of the contraventionCorrect
  2. BAs an Assistant Public Information Officer with no liability
  3. CAs an appellate authority under the Act
  4. DAs an outsider who cannot be held responsible under the Act

Explanation

Under section 5(5), any officer whose assistance is sought under section 5(4) must render all assistance and, for the purposes of any contravention of the Act, is treated as a Central or State Public Information Officer. So the finance officer can be held accountable like the PIO.

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