Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has rejected a suggestion of the State Information Commission (SIC) to consider Indian Postal Order for remitting the fee for seeking information under the Right to Information Act.
Siby Mathews, who relieved from the CIC on Saturday on completion of his term, had earlier recommended the government to allow IPO also as a means to pay RTI fee. But the government turned it down without citing any specific reasons.
Sources said it was considering concerns of public regarding the difficulties in getting court fee stamp that the SIC suggested that IPO could also be considered as an option for remitting RTI fee.
There are even persons who approach post offices seeking court fee stamps.
“Court fee stamps are not easily available and many are still even ignorant on where court fee stamps are available. Hence, we suggested that IPO may also be made a means to remit RTI fees as IPOs could be obtained from any post offices,” said Mr Mathews.
RTI activists pointed out that persons hailing from other states who want to file an RTI application in Kerala were also facing difficulties in getting as court fee stamp, which is issued by the state government. Though a bank demand draft is an option, it is also not that easy.
“To make the availability of information easier, it is essential to provide multiple options for remitting RTI fee. A proposal for the Centre to bring out an RTI stamp through the postal department is a good initiative,” RTI activist D B Binu said.
