What are the designations of Public Information Officers?

Designations of Public Information Officers under the RTI Act, 2005

1. Central Public Information Officer (CPIO)

Section 5(1): Every public authority shall, within one hundred days of the enactment of this Act, designate as many officers as the Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) in all administrative units or offices as necessary to provide information to persons requesting it under this Act.

Role: CPIOs are responsible for receiving RTI applications, processing them, and providing the requested information within the stipulated time frame.

2. State Public Information Officer (SPIO)

Section 5(1): Similar to CPIOs, every public authority at the state level must designate as many officers as the State Public Information Officers (SPIOs) in all administrative units or offices as necessary.

Role: SPIOs handle RTI requests at the state level, ensuring that information is provided to applicants in a timely manner.

3. Central Assistant Public Information Officer (CAPIO)

Section 5(2): Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), every public authority shall designate an officer at each sub-divisional level or other sub-district level as a Central Assistant Public Information Officer (CAPIO) to receive applications for information or appeals under this Act for forwarding them to the CPIO or the Central Information Commission.

Role: CAPIOs assist in receiving and forwarding RTI applications and appeals to the appropriate CPIO or the Central Information Commission. The time taken to forward the application is added to the response time.

4. State Assistant Public Information Officer (SAPIO)

Section 5(2): Similar to CAPIOs, every public authority at the state level must designate an officer at each sub-divisional level or other sub-district level as a State Assistant Public Information Officer (SAPIO) to receive applications for information or appeals under this Act for forwarding them to the SPIO or the State Information Commission.

Role: SAPIOs assist in receiving and forwarding RTI applications and appeals to the relevant SPIO or the State Information Commission.

5. Public Information Officers (PIOs)

General Role: PIOs are designated in various public authorities to ensure the smooth flow of information under the RTI Act.

Responsibilities: They are the primary point of contact for citizens seeking information and are responsible for providing the requested information or directing the request to the appropriate authority.

Appointment and Training

Appointment: Public authorities must appoint these officers within 100 days of the enactment of the RTI Act. The number of officers appointed is based on the needs of the public authority to ensure efficient handling of information requests.

Training: PIOs and their assistants are often provided with training to handle RTI requests effectively and to understand the provisions of the RTI Act.

Conclusion

These designations ensure that there is a structured and efficient process for handling RTI requests, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in public authorities.