Supreme Court's Online Portal For RTI Filing Is Live
The Chief Justice of India Justice DY Chandrachud, who also chairs the e-committee of the Supreme Court, today announced in the open Court that Online RTI Portal of the Supreme Court is now live and accessible to the public.
The Online RTI Portal, https://registry.sci.gov.in/rti_app, may be used by citizens to file RTI application, first appeal, making online payment of fees and copying charges under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Portal allows payment of prescribed fees through internet banking, debit or credit cards, or using UPI.
CJI DY Chandrachud today said, "Before we start with the mentioning, I wanted to say that the RTI portal is all ready. It will be operating within 15 minutes. In case there are some problems, bear with us. If there are teething problems we will look at it and rectify it."
The fee for making RTI application is ₹10/- per application. However, an applicant under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) is exempted to pay the requisite application fee under the RTI Rules, 2012. An applicant filing an application under the BPL category is required to attach and upload a copy of the BPL certificate issued by the appropriate government in this regard, along with the application.
An application would only be registered once the requisite fee has been paid successfully.
The applicant can pay the prescribed fee through internet banking, UPI or through credit/debit card of Master/Visa.
The application filed through this Web Portal would reach electronically to the Central Public Information Officer of the Supreme Court and First Appellate Authority of Supreme Court, as the case may be.
On November 11, 2022, a bench comprising of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli, disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding online RTI Portal for the Supreme Court, saying "The online portal of the Supreme Court for streamlining the responses under the Right to Information Act 2005 is practically ready for being launched. In this view of the matter, the grievance of the petitioners has been duly met."
The Online RTI portal (www.rtionline.gov.in) operated by Department of Personnel & Training, Government of India covers all central ministries and departments. However, the Supreme Court, which is a public authority under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 was not offering such facility for the online filing of RTI applications.
It was claimed that the non-creation of such portal by the Supreme Court's Registry is denying access to speedy information and justice. The Supreme Court in Pravasi Legal Cell v Union of India & Ors. has issued notice while recognizing the legal mandate of Online RTI Portal for State Governments.
A few of the High Courts in the Country (like, Delhi HC and Madhya Pradesh HC) have already established their respective e-portal for filing of the RTI applications.
