RTI
RIGHT TO INFORMATION
The Right to Information Act, 2005 is an important legislation to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of public authorities of India. Any citizen of India has the right to seek information from public authorities as per the provisions of the RTI Act. The full text of the RTI Act ,2005 may be accessed at the link:RTI-Act.pdf
The contact details of the designated Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) and the First Appellate Authority (FAA) for the Embassy of India, Tallinn are as below:
Central Public Information Officer
Mr. Balbir Raj Saini,
First Secretary (Political, Info & Culture)
Embassy of India, Tallinn
Email: pol.tallinn@mea.gov.in
First Appellate Authority
Mr. Manoj Sharma
First Secretary (HOC)
Embassy of India, Tallinn
Email: hoc.tallinn@mea.gov.in
As per Section 6(1) (a) of the RTI Act, 2005, a person who desires to obtain information under the Act is required to submit the application to the Information Officer of the ‘concerned public authority’. Applicants are, therefore, advised to send their requests under the RTI Act to the Embassy only when the subject matter can reasonably be presumed to pertain to the Embassy. Where the information required obviously does not pertain to the Embassy, the application may be addressed to the concerned Public Information Officer (PIO) directly.
Indian citizens resident in the Estonia may seek information on a matter in writing on payment of requisite fee during office hours on working days as per procedure laid down in the RTI Act, 2005 (https://rti.gov.in/rtiact.asp). Applications seeking information under the Act may be sent along with a fee in Euros equivalent to INR 10/- (Indian Rupee ten only) in cheque or demand draft in favour of Embassy of India. The mailing address is Embassy of India, 5th Floor, 5 Tornimae Street, 10145 Tallinn, Estonia. Applications should be submitted along with documentary proof of Indian Citizenship (eg., copy of personal particulars pages of passport). Further information is available at http://rti.gov.in.
An RTI applicant aggrieved with the reply/decision of the CPIO can file an appeal with the FAA of the Embassy. If a citizen is not satisfied with the decision of the FAA, a second Appeal may be filed before the Central Information Commission.
Modes and Procedure to file RTI application:
An RTI application can either be sent through post or submitted online.
a. Postal Application:
An application addressed to the Central Public Information Officer may be sent by post to: Embassy of India, Tallinn, 5th Floor, 5 Tornimae Street, 10145 Tallinn along with the following:
· Documentary proof of Indian citizenship
· Prescribed fee of Rs. 10/- (Rupees Ten only) in equivalent Euro through a cheque or demand draft in favour of the Embassy of India.
b. Online Application:
Online RTI application should be submitted through the RTI Portal: https://rtionline.gov.in/
The guidelines for use of RTI online Portal are available on the link: https://rtionline.gov.in/guidelines.php?request
The application filed through Web Portal would reach electronically to the Nodal Officer" of concerned Ministry/Department, who would transmit the RTI application electronically to the concerned CPIO.
Fee for RTI application submitted through RTI web portal can be made online, as per the modes prescribed therein.
For filing RTI application to Embassy of India, Tallinn through the web portal, applicants should in the column - Select Ministry/Department/Apex body, select – Ministry of External Affairs; and in the column - Select Public Authority, select – Embassy of India, Tallinn.
Payment of RTI fee online
The scheme of Electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO) has been launched by the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in association with Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). This would enable the Indian citizens abroad to pay the RTI fee online.
An Indian Postal Order can be purchased electronically by paying a fee on-line through e-Post Office Portal or through India Post website. The web-links for payment are:
www.indiapost.gov.in ; www.epostoffice.gov.in
The RTI application accompanied by an eIPO is similar in all respects to the RTI application accompanied by fees through any other approved mode. All the provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions etc; as provided in the RTI Act, 2005 continue to apply.
Procedure
The RTI applicant is required to register on the website to create her/his profile. Then she/he has to select the Ministry/Department from whom she/he desires to seek information under the RTI Act. The eIPO is generated which can be used to seek information from that Ministry/ Department only. A printout of the eIPO is required to be attached with the RTI application sent in hard copy. In case RTI application is filed electronically, the eIPO is enclosed as an attachment. The guidelines for use of RTI online Portal are available on the link: https://rtionline.gov.in/guidelines.php?request
Suo-Moto declaration of public information as mandated under section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act, 2005 in respect of the Embassy of India, Tallinn is given below:
INFORMATION ABOUT THE EMBASSY OF INDIA, TALLINN REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 4(1)(B) OF THE RTI ACT, 2005
(i) |
The particulars of its organization, functions and duties; |
Embassy of India is headed by Ambassador and has following wings: (i) Administration (ii) Commercial Wing (iii) Political Wing (iv) Press, Information and Culture wing (v) Consular Wing. Each wing of the Embassy is headed by a First Secretary rank Officer under the overall supervision of Ambassador. |
(ii) |
The powers and duties of its officers and employees; |
Embassy of India functions within the ambit of India's foreign policy formulated by the Ministry of External Affairs and various instructions received from time to time. General Administrative powers are derived from IFS(PLCA) Rules, as amended from time to time. General Financial Rules (GFRs) Government of India are followed for financial matters. Financial powers of the officers of the Embassy of India have been detailed in the Delegated Financial powers of the Government of India's Representatives Abroad. Consular powers are derived from the Passport Act of India; Passport, Visa, and Consular Manuals; and Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) guidelines as amended from time to time. |
(iii) |
The procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability; |
Various wings function and take decisions under the instructions and supervision of the Ambassador. First Secretary (Head of Chancery) also supervises consular and administrative matters and decisions are made at his level as per delegated powers provided under relevant regulations. |
(iv) |
The norms set by it for the discharge of its functions |
The processing times for various consular services have been mentioned on the Embassy's website, which are subject to change due to unforeseen situations, such as, COVID pandemic. |
(v) |
The rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions; |
IFS (PLCA) Rules and annexures issued by Ministry of External Affairs from time to time, Delegated Financial Powers of Government of India's Representatives abroad, Passport Act, Visa Manual, Manuals on Office Procedures, other relevant Rules and manuals published by Central Government as well as instruction issued by Ministry of External Affairs of India. |
(vi) |
A statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control; |
Classified documents/files relating to India's external relations. |
(vii) |
The particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof; |
Interaction with Indian diaspora, community organizations, business entities and organizations, student bodies, and think tanks in Estonia is integral part of Embassy's activities. Various committees including Tender Evaluation Committee are formed as per the applicable rules, regulations and instructions from Ministry of External Affairs. |
(viii) |
A statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public; |
|
(ix) |
A directory of its officers and employees; |
Directory of officers of Embassy of India, as on 30.08.23 is attached at Annexure-1 |
(x) |
The monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensations provided in its regulations; |
Official both India-based and locally recruited receive monthly remuneration based on their pay scale and applicable allowances as per relevant regulations. Pay-scale of officials is placed at Annexure-II. |
(xi) |
The budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made; |
The Budget figures for the current financial year is placed at Annexure-III. |
(xii) |
The manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes; |
The Embassy of India, Tallinn does not have any subsidy programme. |
(xiii) |
Particulars of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by the organization. |
No concessions, permits or authorization are granted by the Embassy of India in Tallinn. |
(xiv) |
Details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form; |
The Embassy's website has the required information. |
(xv) |
The particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use; |
The information can be requested as per Right to Information, Act. No library or reading room for obtaining the information is available with the Embassy. The contact details of the Appellate Authority and the Public Information Officer are as below: |
(xvi) |
The names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers; |
|
(xvii) |
Such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year; |
The Embassy's website has information which is updated on a regular basis. |
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