Real-time RTI through email, SMS: Report

CIC to adopt new software system from next week to enable applicants to receive notifications and updates

Citizens will now get real-time updates on any complaints or appeals filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, reported the Economic Times on Monday. 

The report added that the Central Information Commission (CIC) would now function akin to an e-court.

How will it work?

According to the report, from next week, the CIC will start utilising a new software. The software will ensure that hearings are faster and more convenient, the report added.

How will this help citizens?

Once the new software is online, the report said, an RTI applicant will receive a registration number and get an alert over his or her email and mobile phone as soon as an appeal or complaint is filed. Subsequently, the case will immediately be electronically transferred to the concerned information commissioner's registry. 

This new system, the report said, will cut down the time taken by the whole process from a few days to a few hours. 

Further, with the new system in place, an RTI applicant will be alerted regarding the date of hearing through an automatic SMS and email, the report said, adding that the applicant concerned will also get an email in advance which will contain the records submitted by him or her to the CIC and the submissions by the government in the concerned case.

What does this mean for the CIC?

According to the report, not only will the new system make the process faster and efficient for the CIC, it will also mitigate issues like loss of case files and non-registration of cases.

Further, according to the report, the information commissioner concerned will receive background information regarding the specific case and details about the appellant upon opening the case file. 

Speaking to ET on the matter, a senior CIC official said: "We would know if he has more appeals pending. This could facilitate hearing of multiple appeals of the same person on a given day. It would directly impact pendency as more cases would be disposed in a day."

The CIC, the report added, has already scanned and converted 150,000 files into electronic files.