Right to Information
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Right to Information

Right to Information

The Right to Information (RTI) under the provisions of the RTI Act is available to the citizens of India only. RTI Act is an important legislation designed to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of public authorities.

The full text of the RTI Act is available here: https://rti.gov.in/rti-act.pdf

The RTI Act also provides for appeals by aggrieved persons to the Central Information Commission of the Government of India.

Indian citizens resident in  may seek information in writing on payment of requisite fee during office hours on working days as per procedure laid down in the RTI Act, 2005.

Payment of RTI fee online - Electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO)

The scheme of Electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO) has been launched by the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in association with Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). This would enable the Indian citizens abroad to pay the RTI fee online.

An Indian Postal Order can be purchased electronically by paying a fee on-line through e-Post Office Portal or through India Post website. The web-links for payment are:

www.indiapost.gov.inwww.epostoffice.gov.in

The Credit Card or Debit Card of any bank powered by Visa/ Master can be used for this purpose.

Procedure for obtaining eIPO

The RTI applicant is required to register on the website to create his/ her profile. Then he has to select the Ministry/ Department from whom he desires to seek information under the RTI Act. The eIPO is generated which can be used to seek information from that Ministry/ Department only. A printout of the eIPO is required to be attached with the RTI application sent in hard copy. In case RTI application is filed electronically, the eIPO is enclosed as an attachment. The profile is required to be created during the first time only.

The RTI application accompanied by an eIPO is similar in all respects to the RTI application accompanied by fees through any other approved mode. All the provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions etc; as provided in the RTI Act, 2005 continue to apply.

Currently, this facility is available only for Indian Citizens living anywhere other than in India. By this measure, those living abroad would be facilitated to seek information under the RTI Act, 2005. It is hoped that in future, this facility would be extended to all citizens within the country too. Any public authority which accepts a postal order should also accept an eIPO.

Extension of IPO Facility to Indians citizens residing in India

The Department of Posts has extended the “eIPO” (electronic Indian Postal Order) service to Indian citizens residing in India also w.e.f. 13.02.2014, for purchasing Indian Postal Order electronically by paying a fee online through e-Post Office Portal i.e www.epostoffice.gov.in It can also be accessed through India Post website www.indiapost.gov.in

This facility has been provided for Indian citizens to facilitate them to seek information from the Central Public information Officers (CPIOs) under the RTI Act, 2005. Debit or Credit Cards of any Bank powered by Visa/ Master can be used to purchase e-IPO.

The user needs to get registered at the website. He has to select the Ministry/ Department from whom he desires to seek the information under the RTI Act and the eIPO so generated can be used to seek the information from that Ministry/Department only. A printout of the eIPO is required to be attached with the RTI application. If the RTI application is being filed electronically, eIPO is required to be attached as an attachment.

This facility is only for purchasing an Indian Postal Order electronically. All the requirements for filling an RTI application as well as other provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions etc. will continue to apply.

An eIPO so generated must be used only once with an RTI application.

Information under Section 4 (1) (b)

It may be noted that information provided under the Act is available to citizens of India only. Applications should be submitted along with documentary proof of Indian Citizenship (like copy of personal particulars pages of passport.) More information is available at Website of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and rti.gov.in

As per section 6(1) (a) of the RTI Act, 2005, a person who desires to obtain information under the Act is required to submit the application to the Public Information Officer of the “concerned public authority”. Applicants are, therefore, advised to send their requests under the RTI Act to PIO in the Assistant High Commission of India, Sylhet only when the subject matter can reasonably be presumed to pertain to the Assistant High Commission of India, Sylhet. It is expected that most information of interest would be available in Post’s website.

Applications seeking information under the Act may be sent to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of AHCI Sylhet along with the prescribed fee of Tk 15 favoring the Assistant High Commission of India, Sylhet. Fees can be paid by local cheque or cash submitted.

(i)

The particulars of its organization, functions and duties;

The Assistant High Commission of India(AHCI), Sylhet, began functioning in June 2018.

AHCI, Sylhet is headed by the Assistant High Commissioner (AHC). Working hours, address, phone number and email address are given on the home page of its website – ahcisylhet.gov.in

AHCI is a representative office of Government of India in Sylhet.

Functions of the AHCI include issuance of visas, welfare of Indian nationals in its Consular jurisdiction (Districts of Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Kishoreganj & Netorokona), promotion of bilateral trade, culture etc.

AHCI functions under the general supervision of High Commission of India, Dhaka. Work within the AHCI is distributed among its officers and staff by the AHC.

(ii)

The powers and duties of its officers and employees;

Financial powers of the officers of AHCI are defined in the Delegated Financial powers of the Government of India's Representatives Abroad. Other powers and duties are derived from various Acts, rules and regulations as applicable.

The officers of AHCI exercise their powers and functions under the guidance and supervision of the AHC as per work allocated.

(iii)

The procedure followed in the decision making process;

(a) Decisions are taken after examination and processing under applicable rules and regulations with the approval of the competent authority.

(b) Decisions are taken with the approval of AHC while in some instances, the approval of competent authority in HCI Dhaka / Ministry of
External Affairs is obtained.

(c) IFS(PLCA) rules, Financial Powers of GOI Representatives abroad, Passports Act and other Acts, rules and regulations.

(d) Time limits as prescribed under the relevant rules are applicable.

(e) The functioning of the AHCI is under the supervision of HCI Dhaka / Ministry of
External Affairs, Government of India.

(iv)

Norms for discharge of functions;

(a) Visa and Consular services are offered by AHCI as per Acts, rules and regulations applicable. (b) Norms / standards for public services are as per guidelines / instructions of HCI Dhaka/Ministry.

(c) Details on the process for availing visa services are available on the website of the AHCI and service provider (ivacbd.com)

(d) Time limits as prescribed under the relevant rules are applicable.

(e) Grievances received through email and social media are brought to the notice of AHC and are redressed as per rules.

(v)

Rules, regulations, instructions manual and records for discharging functions;

(a-c) IFS PLCA Rules and Annexures; Delegated Financial Powers of Government of India's Representatives abroad Rules; Passports Act; Manual of Office Procedure; Visa manual; Other Acts, Rules and manuals published by the Government of India as applicable.

(d) Transfers from/to AHCI are decided by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India as per its policy.

(vi)

Categories of documents held by the authority under its control;

(a) Correspondence/notes/files relating to the functioning of AHCI; application forms and enclosures pertaining to Passport, consular and visa services;

(b) The documents are in the custody of the respective officers to whom the work has been allotted;

(vii)

Arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof;

Members of the public can contact the AHCI through letters/email/social media accounts with their suggestions / representations in relation to formulation of policy. Where applicable, these are forwarded to the competent authorities for consideration.

(viii)

Boards, Councils, Committees and other Bodies constituted as part of the Public Authority;

(a) Local Purchase Committee, Tender Evalutaion Committee; ICWF Committee etc

(b) Composition of the Committees are decided by AHC as and when constituted;

(c) Committees are constituted as and when required;

(d) Committees are formed for a specific purpose and on completion of the work, the committees are dissoluted;

(e) The Powers and functions of the Committees are recommendatory in nature;

(f) The meetings of the Committees are not open to the public;

(g) Minutes of meetings of Committees are not open to the public;

(h) As the minutes of meetings of Committees are not open to the public, they are not published.

(ix)

Directory of officers and employees;

(a) Directory of officers can be seen under contact us section of the website – ahcisylhet.gov.in;

(b) Contact details including email address of officers of AHCI are given on the website - ahcisylhet.gov.in;

(x)

Monthly Remuneration received by officers & employees, including the system of compensation;

(a&b) The monthly remuneration including allowances received by officers and employees of AHCI depends on the pay level of the incumbent and are fixed by the Ministry of External Affairs. Annexure-I

 

(xi)

The budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made;

Annexure-II

(xii)

Manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes;

There are no subsidy programmes in AHCI

(xiii)

Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorisations granted by it;

NIL

(xiv)

Details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form;

Website of AHCI contains data in electronic form.

(xv)

Particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use;

There are no facilities available for public use in this office.

(xvi)

Name, designation and other particulars of the Public Information Officers;

Chief Public Information Officer
Shri C. Kannan, Second Secretary
Assistant High Commission of India, Sylhet
Tel: +880 299 66 87004
Email : attadmn.sylhet@mea.gov.in

First Appellate Authority
Smt. Shakuntala Kalra, Head of Chancery
Assistant High Commission of India, Sylhet
Tel: +880 299 66 87 009
Email : ahc.sylhet@mea.gov.in

Details of CPIO & FAA since 1.1.2015

(xvii)

Such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year;

Websites of Assistant High Commission, Sylhet and the High Commission in Dhaka have information which is updated on a regular basis.