RTI copy price slashed? Not yet

Kochi: Some government departments seem to be bent on looting the public. They charge over Rs 500 for photocopying a document whereas the normal charge is only Rs 5.

The state government is sitting on an order issued by full bench of the State Information Commission (SIC) fixing the photocopying charges for A3-size page at Rs 5 per copy instead of Rs 571 for those seeking sketches of land records under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Although the order was issued to the secretary of general administration department (GAD) on February 4 this year, the official concerned has not issued any instructions to the information officers in the departments concerned. The matter is still under the consideration of the government, according to the secretary.

RTI activist M.T. Thomas said the delay had affected hundreds of people who use the RTI window to get sketches of land records, especially after the government put in place the resurvey mechanism. A sum of Rs 571 for A3-size photocopy is exorbitant, he said.

A source in SIC told this newspaper that the commission would write to the government again in case of any complaint on government departments charging rates higher than the one fixed by the commission. “We will examine the matter and take necessary steps,” said the source.

The full bench of the SIC in its February order had fixed photocopying charges at Rs 2 for A4 paper and Rs 5 for A3 paper per copy.