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2014 (11) TMI 1046 - Commission - Indian LawsRTI application - name and designation of the CPIO dealt with it and inspection of all files, copies of related noting documents - Held that:- Section 2(j) explains right to information includes ‘inspection of work, documents, records; taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records; taking certified samples of material. The Commission observes: When huge information/record sought pertains to a larger period such as ten or more years, which does not attract Section 8 or 9, the best way of realization of right to information is to facilitate inspection. It will help the appellant to select the relevant documents and seek copy of only those documents found relevant instead of copying huge number of files unnecessarily involving huge expenditure and time for both parties. The public authority should create a specific and convenient place for facilitating inspection taking enough care for security of records. If someone wants copy of entire record of the office, it may not be possible or reasonable besides attracting the restriction under Section 7(9). If the records pertaining to areas exempted from disclosure are separated and the public records are kept accessible to citizens, it would serve the purpose. During the inspection the appellant should be facilitated to sit and take notes from the files and if he seeks copies of any documents which are permissible, they shall be given then and there at prescribed cost. The Commission makes following recommendations: a) the appellant to have inspection and seek copies of papers, if he thinks necessary, if not furnished earlier. b) the appellant not to consider it as suppression of records, which the officers were fearing about, c) with regard to his earlier RTI applications also the Commission would like the appellant to rationalize and minimize requirement of copies of documents strictly relevant to the aspect of public interest so that the officers would not worry about the stress and time needed to collect huge amount of information d) the respondents consider possibility of facilitating inspection before invoking Section 7(9) of RTI Act. e) both the respondents and appellant to have a coordinated approach in securing reasonable and only information required in public interest.
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