Consider the following statements:
- A PIO has to offer reasonable assistance to the person making the request orally to record the same in writing.
- A PIO is under no obligation to provide requested information to non-BPL category persons without the payment of application / initial fees.
- A PIO is under no obligation to provide the requested information to non-BPL category persons without the payment of further fees as specified by her / him.
Which of the above statements are correct ?
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2024
Statement 2 is correct. Section 6(1) requires a fee for submitting a request, which is exempted for persons below the poverty line (BPL). Therefore, for non-BPL category persons, payment of the prescribed application/initial fee is mandatory for the request to be processed.
Statement 3 is correct. Section 7(3) and 7(5) outline the procedure for intimation of fees for providing the information (cost of copying, etc.). Section 7(5) explicitly states that no fee shall be charged from persons below the poverty line. By implication, non-BPL applicants are required to pay these further fees as specified by the PIO before the information is provided. The PIO is under no obligation to provide the information without receiving these fees from non-BPL applicants.