Section 18 RTI Act: Powers and functions of Information Commissions

Section 18 RTI Act Bare Act Text

18. Powers and functions of Information Commissions.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, it shall be the duty of the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, to receive and inquire into a complaint from any person,—

(a) who has been unable to submit a request to a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, either by reason that no such officer has been appointed under this Act, or because the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be, has refused to accept his or her application for information or appeal under this Act for forwarding the same to the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer or senior officer specified in sub-section (1) of section 19 or the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be;

(b) who has been refused access to any information requested under this Act;

(c) who has not been given a response to a request for information or access to information within the time limit specified under this Act;

(d) who has been required to pay an amount of fee which he or she considers unreasonable;

(e) who believes that he or she has been given incomplete, misleading or false information under this Act; and

(f) in respect of any other matter relating to requesting or obtaining access to records under this Act.

(2) Where the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to inquire into the matter, it may initiate an inquiry in respect thereof.

(3) The Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, shall, while inquiring into any matter under this section, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), in respect of the following matters, namely:—

(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of persons and compel them to give oral or written evidence on oath and to produce the documents or things;

(b) requiring the discovery and inspection of documents;

(c) receiving evidence on affidavit;

(d) requisitioning any public record or copies thereof from any court or office;

(e) issuing summons for examination of witnesses or documents; and

(f) any other matter which may be prescribed.

(4) Notwithstanding anything inconsistent contained in any other Act of Parliament or State Legislature, as the case may be, the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be, may, during the inquiry of any complaint under this Act, examine any record to which this Act applies which is under the control of the public authority, and no such record may be withheld from it on any grounds.

Section 18 RTI Act in Simple Words

When Section 18 RTI Act Applies

• A person faces one of the six situations in Section 18(1)(a) to (f) RTI Act: inability to submit a request or appeal, refusal of access, no timely response or access, an unreasonable fee demand, incomplete, misleading, or false information, or another matter relating to requesting or obtaining access to records.
• The person submits a complaint to the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, subject to the provisions of the RTI Act.
• Under Section 18(2) RTI Act, the Commission is satisfied that reasonable grounds exist to inquire into the matter and initiates an inquiry.
• During an inquiry under Section 18 RTI Act, the Commission exercises civil court powers under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 to summon witnesses, take evidence on oath or affidavit, and require documents or public records.
• During the inquiry of any complaint under the RTI Act, the Commission may examine any record to which the RTI Act applies that is under the public authority's control, and no such record may be withheld on any grounds.

Example of Section 18 RTI Act

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