Right To Information Act
1. About The Act
The Parliament has enacted the The Right to Information Act, 2005 which has received the President's assent on 15th June 2005 and was notified in Official Gazette on 21st June 2005. It extends to the whole of India. The provisions of sub-section (1) of section 4, sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 5, Sections 12, 13,15, 16, 24, 27 and 28 shall come into force at once, and the remaining provisions of this Act shall come into force on the one hundred and twentieth day of its enactment.
2. Public Authority
The expression "Public Authority" means :-
Any Authority or Body or Institution of self-government established or constituted:
(a) by or under constitution,
(b) by any other Law made by Parliament,
(c) by any other Law made by State Legislature,
(d) by Notification issued or Order made by the appropriate Government, etc.
3. What Is Right To Information
The right to information includes an access to the information which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to inspect the work, document, records, taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents/records and certified samples of the materials and obtaining information which is also stored in electronic form.
4. The Information Which Is Exempt From Disclosure
The Act provides under sections 8 & 9, certain categories of information that are exempt from disclosure to the citizens.Any person desirous of obtaining information is advised to refer to the relative sections of the Act before submitting a request for information.
5. Who Can Request For Information
Any citizen can request for information by making an application in writing or through electronic means in English/Hindi/official language of the areas, in which the application is being made together with the prescribed fees.The application has to be sent to the concerned Regional Head i.e. the Public Information Officer of the Region to which the matter/information pertains to, who shall dispose of the request within 30 days of the receipt of the request.
6. Whom To Approach For The Information And Appeals
Our Bank has designated all Regional Managers of the respective Regions for the Branches under their control to dispose of the request for information received from any person, as Central Public Information Officers. The Chief Manager (Vigilance & Legal) has been designated as Central Public Information Officer at Head Office. The General Manager at Head Office is the Appellate Authority to dispose off the appeals preferred against the decision of the concerned Central Public Information Officer as required under the Act. It is hereby informed that any person, who does not receive a decision within the time specified under the Act or is aggrieved by a decision of the Central Public Information Officer, may within -30- days from the expiry of such period or from receipt of such a decision prefer an appeal to the concerned Appellate Authority.
7. How To Access The Bank's Information
The particulars of Organisational Structure, Bank's branch /office network, products and services etc. are provided on Bank's website under relevant heads. Public can access to the Bank's website for the details.
8. Mode & Means Of Payment Of Fees And Cost
Fee and cost of information shall be as per the Right to Information Rules, 2012 as amended from time to time. The fee shall be payable either by Demand Draft OR Indian Postal Order OR Banker's Cheque drawn in favour of Central Public Information Officer of our Bank. The fees, if paid in cash, should be deposited at the Branch nearest to the applicant and the receipt of payment should be enclosed to the application / request of information.