Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
explanations:competent-authority [2023/04/15 10:51] – Shrawanexplanations:competent-authority [2026/05/05 01:01] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
Line 1: Line 1:
-====== Competent Authority under RTI Act ====== +{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(competent authority rti, section 2e rti, section 28 rti, high court rules rti, supreme court rules rti, legislature rti, rti rule making) 
-{{tag>rti act,competent authority,interpretation}}{{like>}} +metatag-description=(Competent Authority under RTI — Section 2(e) - verified citizen guide on RTI Wiki, India's independent Right to Information reference. Updated 2026 with latest.)}}
-{{ :explanations:authority-rti.jpg |}} +
-As per the [[act:|RTI Act]], the competent authority is:  +
-  - the Speaker in the case of the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of a state or a Union territory having such Assembly and the chairman in the case of the Council  of States or a Legislative council of a State”; +
-  - The Chief Justice of India in the case of the Supreme court; +
-  - The Chief Justice of the High court in the case of a High court; +
-  - The President or the Governor, as the case may be, in the case of other authorities established or constituted by or under the constitution; +
-  - the administrator appointed under article 239 of the constitution;+
  
 +====== Competent Authority under RTI — Section 2(e) ======
  
-===== Interpretation of Competent Authority =====+{{ :social:auto:explanations-competent-authority.png?direct&1200 |Competent Authority under RTI — Section 2(e) — RTI Wiki}}
  
 +{{page>snippets:dpdp-banner}}
  
-This needs to be viewed through section 2(g) and section 28 which suggests that each competent authority is vested with rule making powers. Rules framed by a competent authority are applicable only to Public Authorities working under the control of the concerned competent authority. This rulemaking power of all competent authorities is not subjected to provisions of section 29. This apparently, is to respect the autonomy enjoyed by competent authorities other than those mentioned at 2(e)(iv).+<WRAP center round info 95%> 
 +**In one line:** [[:act#section-2preliminary-definitions|Section 2(e)]] of the RTI Act names **"competent authorities"** who, under [[:act#section-28power-to-make-rules-by-competent-authority|Section 28]], may make their own rules for the implementation of the Act within their domain. The competent authorities include the **Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Speakers and Chairmen of State Legislatures, the Chief Justice of India, Chief Justices of High Courts, the President (for the Supreme Court and certain constitutional offices), and the Governor (for State High Courts)**. 
 +</WRAP>
  
  
-Rules can be made by the Speakers of the respective houses, the Chief Justices of the respective Courts, Governors of respective states and the President. The only specific task of the ‘competent authority’ discussed in Section 28 is the right to make rules mainly for fees and formats for appeals.  
  
-For  Union territories, the administrator appointed by the President can make the rules. These rules cannot denote anything which is not in consonance with the law. In case of any inconsistency, the law will prevail.+**Section 2(e) identifies the "competent authority" empowered to make rules for their own institution.** India's independent Right to Information reference, updated 2026.
  
-{{indexmenu>:explanations#1}}+===== Who is a Competent Authority =====
  
-[<>]+Under Section 2(e), the competent authority is: 
 + 
 +  - **Speaker of the Lok Sabha** — for the Lok Sabha. 
 +  - **Chairman of the Rajya Sabha** — for the Rajya Sabha. 
 +  - **Speakers of State Legislative Assemblies / Chairmen of Legislative Councils** — for their respective Houses. 
 +  - **Chief Justice of India** — for the Supreme Court. 
 +  - **Chief Justices of High Courts** — for their High Courts. 
 +  - **President of India** — for other authorities constituted under the Constitution of India (e.g., Union Public Service Commission, Election Commission of India). 
 +  - **Governor** — for other authorities constituted under the Constitution for a State (e.g., State Public Service Commissions). 
 + 
 +===== Why it matters ===== 
 + 
 +Competent authorities make their own fee rules, forms, and appellate procedure. Examples of rules that depart from Central Rules: 
 + 
 +  * **Supreme Court of India Rules (CJI as competent authority)** — fees, application format, appellate procedure on the administrative side. 
 +  * **Delhi High Court RTI Rules** — Rs 10 fee, specific PIO designations. 
 +  * **Parliament Secretariat RTI Rules** — separate fee, governed by Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha Secretariat. 
 + 
 +Each High Court has its own RTI page on its website; the Rules are usually a short PDF on the Gazette. 
 + 
 +===== Limitations on competent-authority rule-making ===== 
 + 
 +  * Rules cannot **contradict** the Act (Section 28 is subordinate). 
 +  * Rules cannot **introduce new exemptions** beyond Sections 8, 9 and 24. 
 +  * Fee must be reasonable; **first hour of inspection remains free** and **BPL exemption applies universally** under [[:act#section-7disposal-of-request|Section 7(5)]]. 
 + 
 +===== Application to judicial records ===== 
 + 
 +Judicial-side records (case files, judgments not yet delivered, draft orders) fall under the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 and each High Court's judicial rules — separate from RTI. The RTI Act applies to the **administrative side** of courts (pay bills, leave orders, procurement) per the rules made by the competent authority. See //Registrar, Supreme Court of India v. R.S. Misra// (Delhi HC, 2017). 
 + 
 +===== Call to action ===== 
 + 
 +If your RTI concerns a High Court, Parliament, or a constitutional authority, first locate the rules made by that competent authority on the institution's own website. Use the fee prescribed there, not the Central Rules. 
 + 
 +===== Related ===== 
 + 
 +  * [[:act|The RTI Act, 2005]] 
 +  * [[:rules:start|RTI Rules directory]] 
 +  * [[:rules:sc|Supreme Court RTI Rules]] 
 +  * [[:explanations:prescribed|Prescribed — Section 2(g)]] 
 +  * [[:rti-fees-by-state|RTI Fees by State]] 
 + 
 +===== Sources ===== 
 + 
 +  - Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 2(e), 28. 
 +  - Supreme Court of India Rules under Section 28. 
 +  - High Court RTI Rules (notified on each High Court website). 
 + 
 +//Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026// 
 + 
 +{{tag>rti explanations section-2e section-28 competent-authority}}
  
-~~socialite~~