Asked to approach when RTI filed

Recently I filed a rti request regarding leave structure of state government doctor working in a government hospital like
1)no. Of leaves in a year
2)no. Of public holidays in a year
3)second saturday holiday or not
4)compensatory off will be given or not when worked on public holiday etc.
I got a reply asking to approach the pio who is secretary or principal secretary of state government or commissioner of Health and family welfare(I am not sure) .
My doubts are:-
1)Is this correct way to respond to a rti application?
2)myself being a senior citizen and very difficult to go to such high level government officials and also based on my health condition(knee pains). Do I really need to go to get that information.
3)Can i do anything? What are my options?
4)Can i file first appeal asking to give that info without need for approach telling them my age and my health condition(I am not comfortable with sharing this personal information. But will do if no other option is available)?
5)what is the possible reason behind such reply?

Asked 2 years ago in Constitutional Law

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5 Answers

There is no legal infirmity by directing you to approach the concerned authority for obtaining the information from the authority concerned provided if you had not approached the proper authority.

If you are still aggrieved over the reply you always can prefer a first appeal agaisnt this reply.

2. You can ask the desired information from the said authorities by submitting an application under the provisions of RTI Act itself instead of approaching them physically or directly.

3. See the above answer.

4. The first answer above anser this question too.

5. No comments

T Kalaiselvan

Advocate, Vellore

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Talk to Advocate T Kalaiselvan

There is no harm in approaching IO mentioned in reply to your RTI application

2) you can send RTI application by post

3) no need to file appeal

There is no harm in approaching IO mentioned in reply to your RTI application

2) you can send RTI application by post

3) no need to file appeal

Ajay Sethi

Advocate, Mumbai

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Talk to Advocate Ajay Sethi

For further clarification contact me through Pathlegal. Hit like button if answer is useful to you. If RTI is addressed to wrong authority that does not maintain requested information , can direct the applicant to file RTI before proper authority. It is nor clear from you question to whom RTI is addressed. But if RTI is addressed to property authority it cannot direct to applicant to other authority. Such direction amounts to denial of RTI entailing the applicant to file first appeal .

Ravi Shinde

Advocate, Hyderabad

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Dear Client,

RTI act guarantees that the PIO should respond to an application within 30 days. However in some cases, users never get the information sought. In scenarios where the information was not provided you can file for first appeal. you need not go and submit the application by yourself. The applicant can send the application by post or can deliver it personally in the office of PIO or can be sent through an APIO.