INTRODUCTION

1.1 Please throw light on the background of this hand-book (Right to Information Act 2005)   The Government of India has enacted an act named Right to Information Act 2005 in order to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities, in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.   With a view to make the legislation on ‘right to information’ more progressive, participatory and meaningful, ‘The Right to Information Bill, 2004’ (RTI Bill) was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 23rd December, 2004. The Bill was subsequently passed by the House on 11th May, 2005 after adopting certain amendments.   This act came into affect 120 days from the date of enactment. According to the act all citizens shall have the right to information, subject to the provisions of the Act.   • Provision has been made for transfer of a request by a public authority to another public authority wherein the subject matter/information is held by the latter. • A time limit of 30 days has been prescribed for compliance with requests for information under the Act, which, can be extended to 40 days where third-party interests are involved. • A time limit of 30 days has been prescribed for compliance with requests for information under the Act, which, can be extended to 40 days where third-party interests are involved. • Fee to be reasonable. Also, no fee to be charged from persons who are below poverty line. Further, information to be provided free of charge where the response time-limit is not adhered to. • On a request for information being refused, the applicant can prefer an appeal to the prescribed authority within 30 days of the decision, the time limit for disposal of appeal being also 30 days extendable to 45 days. • Monitoring and reporting Act makes a provision to produce statistics to assess its implementation so that improvements could be effected. • Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions to monitor the implementation of the Act and prepare an Annual Report to be laid before Parliament/State Legislature. • Central Government to prepare programme for development of ‘information’ regime.   1.2 Objective of this hand-book   In order to have transparency in public dealings , RTI act is to be given wide publicity and also brought to the notice of all employees as well as the public, so that an awareness is created about the new work culture.   Preparation of manual : According to the requirement of Government of India, each state government is required to produce a manual in form of handbook containing all the information of the concerned government organization.   1.3 Who are the intended users of this manual?   The users of this handbook are the Public, Public Information Officers and Government officers.   Particulars of Public Information Officer :   Public Information officer Deputy General Manager Project   1.4 Contents of hand-book   This handbook provides the information as shown in the table below:     Manual Contents of Manual • Organisation : Particulars, Functions & Duties Brief particulars of functions, duties of the Gujarat State Road Development Corporation Limited. (GSRDC) • Personnel: Powers and Duties The powers and duties of its officers and employees • Decision Making The procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability • Delegation of Power Departmental norms for the discharge of its functions • Reference Manual The rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by department or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions • Documents The statement of the categories of documents that are held by department or under its control • Public Consultation The particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof • Boards, Councils etc A statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public • Directory A directory of officers and employees • Remuneration, Compensation The monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations • Budget The budget allocated indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made • Subsidy Programmes Not applicable • Concessions, Permits The particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorisations granted by it • Information in Electronic Form The details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form • Public Information Counter/Centre The particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use • Public Information Officers The names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers • Other Info & Yearly Update Such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year   1.5 Definitions   In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, -   a. “right to information” means the right to information accessible under this Act which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to-   (i) inspection of work, documents, records;   (ii) taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records;   (iii) taking certified samples of material;   (iv) obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device; b. “appropriate Government” means Government of Gujarat (GOG). c. GSRDC is the Public Sector undertaking of Government of Gujarat (GOG) dealing with development of road Infrastructure through various modes of Public Private Partnership. d. “Public Authorities” which means any authority or body or institution of self-government established or constituted by Government of Gujarat (GOG) or under the constitution by any law made by the appropriate Government or any other body owned, controlled or substantially financed directly or indirectly by the appropriate Government, and includes non-government organizations, substantially financed by the government. e. “information” means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data materials held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force.   1.6 Contact person in case some body wants to get more information on topics covered in the hand-book as well as other information also   The contact person is the “Public information officers” • General Manager (Finance)   Tas designated from Government of Gujarat (GOG). GSRDC   (Information to be furnished by R&BD).   1.7 Procedure and Fee Structure for getting information not available in the hand-book • (Details are given in Manual 17).