BUY POSTAL ORDERS ONLINE FOR RTI APPLICATION

People can now buy postal orders online to file RTI applications after payment of fee through a postal department website. Earlier this facility was only available to Indian citizens living abroad. "This facility has been provided for Indian citizens to facilitate them to seek information from the Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) under the RTI Act, 2005. "Debit or Credit Cards of any Bank powered by Visa or Master can be used to purchase e-IPO," said an order issued today by Ministry of Personnel. This facility is only for purchasing an Indian Postal Order (IPO) electronically. "All the requirements for filing an RTI application as well as other provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions etc. will continue to apply," it said. An e-IPO so generated must be used only once with an RTI application. To check any multiple use of an e-IPO, the public authority shall maintain a record of those received by it. To use the facility, a user needs to get registered at the website -- www.epostoffice.gov.in. He has to then select the ministry or department from whom he desires to seek the information under the RTI Act and the e-IPO so generated can be used to seek information from that particular office only. "A printout of the e-IPO is required to be attached with the RTI application. If the RTI application is being filed electronically, eIPO is required to be attached as an attachment," the instructions for the use reads. The RTI Act mandates an Indian citizen to seek time-bound information on matters of governance after payment of a fee of Rs 10. The Ministry of Personnel, nodal authority for implementation of the transparency law, is running a website -- www.rtionline.gov.in -- to facilitate online filing of RTI applications.