Duties of a Public Information Officer (PIO)

Overview

The role of a Public Information Officer is crucial in handling requests for information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The RTI Act was passed by the Indian Parliament on June 15, 2005, and fully enacted on October 12, 2005.
RTI empowers citizens to access information equivalent to what is available to members of Parliament.

RTIs can be filed in three ways, with sending directly to PIO being the most efficient.
Filing through Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO) or other public authorities adds 5-12 extra days.
Opt for APIO or other authorities only if PIO's address is unknown or if PIO is in a different city.

RTI applications can be denied based on:
- Potential harm to national integrity, security, or foreign relations.
- Inquiries on government strategies during wartime or technical details of space programs.
- Information explicitly prohibited by courts, e.g., rape victim details.
- Information disclosure that may harm third parties, like trade secrets or intellectual property.
- Fiduciary relationship information, e.g., medical reports or cabinet papers.
Certain organizations, like Intelligence Bureau or Research & Analysis Wing, are exempt from RTI requests.

Timely Response: Respond to RTI related to life or liberty within 48 hours.
Partial Information: If only part of the information is disclosed, reasons for non-disclosure must be provided along with applicant rights for review.
Equal Rights: Information that cannot be denied to Parliament members cannot be denied to RTI applicants.
Proactive Disclosure: PIOs must voluntarily disclose information as per Section 4 of the RTI Act.

The RTI Act facilitates transparency and accountability, allowing citizens to access government-held information.
There are specified grounds and exemptions for denying access to certain information to protect national interests and privacy.