Right to Information (RTI) Act

The “right to information” means, an access to the information which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to inspect the works, documents, records, notes, extracts or certified copies of document/record and certified samples of the material and obtaining information which is also stored in electronic form.

The Right To Information Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December, 2004. It was passed by both Houses of Parliament in May, 2005. The assent of the President was received on 15 June and the Act was notified in the Gazette of India on 21 June, 2005. The Right To Information Act has become operational by the 12 October, 2005 after the completion of 120 days from the date of the Presidential assent. Thus, the Freedom of Information Act passed by Parliament in 2002 has been repealed. The citizen’s right to information is not explicitly mentioned in the Fundamental Rights chapter of the Constitution. But in more than ten cases, the Supreme Court of India has declared that the Fundamental Right to Life and Liberty [Article 21] and the Fundamental Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression [Article 19(1)] include every citizen's fundamental right to access information. The Parliament passed the Right To Information Act (RTI Act) to enable all citizens to use their fundamental right to access information from public bodies.

In accordance with the guidelines of the Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal, and the UGC, Jatindra Rajendra Mahavidyalaya implements the Right to Information Act, 2005 and our college has constituted the RTI Cell as per above Government norms & regulations.

In pursuance of the Right to Information Act 2005, an officer has been designated as Public Information Officer (PIO) and he/she shall perform the duties and responsibilities as envisaged under the act without fail.

Persons seeking information under RTI are advised to go through the full text of the RTI Act available at the website listed below.

1. https://rti.gov.in/
2. http://wbic.gov.in/

• The Application may be prescribed proforma or may be type-written or may be neatly hand-written wherein mention atop “APPLICATION UNDER RTI ACT-2005”.
• The application should be written in English or Bengali and be in a simple and easy language.
• Mention your question direct & point wise, avoid asking vague questions.
• Avoid using too technical terms and legal terminology.
• Attach Govt. RTI fees in the form of IPO/DD etc., as applicable with the RTI application for Rs. 10.00 (Rupees Ten) only in favour of Jatindra Rajendra Mahavidyalaya.
• Application should be sent through India Post or by hand.
• Applicants are advised to send a scanned copy of all RTI related documents through e-mail to the college email and PIO email also if possible.
• Application be addressed to –
  “The Public Information Officer”,
  Jatindra Rajendra Mahavidyalaya,
  Vill. + P.O. – Amtala, P.S. – Nowda,
  Dist. – Murshidabad, Pin. – 742121, West Bengal.