RTI covers archival material: Chief Information Commissioner Vinson M. Paul

KOCHI: Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Vinson M. Paul, through a recent order, has brought archival documents under the Right to Information Act. The order was issued based on a petition filed by RTI Kerala Federation president D.B. Binu. Documents turn archival after a lapse of 20 years and are moved to the Archeology Department. Though Mr Binu approached the department for such documents, it said that such documents can be given out only for verification for research purpose that too only through special steps.

For the same the permission of higher officials is needed as also at higher rates, the department officials said. They also said that copy of the documents cannot be given out and the content can be copied by writing down the same. Binu approached the CIC following this reply. “The CIC made it clear that documents other than those related to nation’s security, Privilege of Assembly, matters under the consideration of the Cabinet are not immune to RTI after 20 years. Hence he ordered to issue archival documents for Rs 2 per copy, which enables availability of important historical documents, “ said Mr Binu.