Govt seeks public view on use of postal stamps as RTI fee

People may soon be able to use postal stamps to pay fee for seeking information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act if a proposal in this regard gets the government's nod.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which acts as nodal agency for implementation of the transparency law, has set up a committee to discuss various matters relating to use of ordinary postal stamps as a mean for payment of fee charged for seeking information and also for payment of costs, including photocopying, towards providing information.

"It has been decided to invite views or suggestions from the citizens in the subject matter, for the consideration of the committee. The views or suggestions, preferably not exceeding more than one page, may be sent latest by February 7 through email only," the DoPT said in an order.

The Department of Posts had earlier expressed its inability to print exclusive RTI stamps.
Subsequently, the postal department recommended use of definitive series of postal stamps which are ubiquitously available in the post offices across the country in different denominations, government officials said.

It also suggested that the RTI applicants would need to affix the postal stamps on the applications which they can cancel by putting signature or thumb impression on the stamps to prevent misuse.

The DoPT order said the committee would examine the apprehension of misuse of ordinary stamps for the purpose of RTI, in the absence of specific procedure for crossing such stamps, and other relevant issues.

In a recent decision, the Central Information Commission had recommended to the government to adopt the proposal of the Department of Posts of use of ordinary postal stamps for payment of RTI fee.