ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CIC, AND INFORMATION SYSTEM IN RESPECT OF THE QUARTERLY RETURNS, REQUIRED TO BE MAINTAINED FOR EFFICIENCY IN ADMINISTRATION

The Information Commissions, after the end of each year, are required to prepare reports on the implementation of the provisions of the Act during that year. Each Ministry of the Department is required, in relation to the public authorities within its jurisdiction, to collect and provide information to the concerned information commission for preparation of the report. The report of the Commission, inter alia, contains following information in respect of the year to which the report relates:--(a) The number of requests made to each public authority (b) the number of decisions where applicants were not entitled to access to the documents pursuant to the requests, the provisions of the Act under which these decisions were made and the number of times such provisions were invoked (c) particulars of any disciplinary action taken against any officer in respect of the administration of the Act (d) the amount of charges collected by each public authority under the Act and (e) Any facts which indicate an effort by the public authorities to administer and implement the spirit and intension of the Act. (2) Every public authority should send necessary material to its administrative Ministry/Department soon after the end of the year, so that the Ministry/Department may send the information to the Commission and the commission may incorporate the same in its report. For this purpose a web based software called "RTI Annual Report Information System" is available on the website of CIC, through which public authorities are required to upload requisite reports on quarterly basis. It is important that all public authorities should get themselves registered with CIC for the purpose of this report and also upload their quarterly returns regularly and on time. (3) If it appears to the information commission that a practice of the public authority in relation to the exercise of its functions under the Act does not conform with the provisions or spirit of the Act, it may give a recommendation to the authority specifying the steps ought to be taken for promoting such conformity. The concerned public authority should take necessary action to bring it's practice in conformity with the Act.