Section 6 of Right to Information act

Section 6(1)

A person who desires to obtain any information under this Act shall make a request in writing or through electronic means in English or Hindi or in the official language of the area in which the application is being made, accompanying such fee as may be prescribed, to—

(a) the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, of the concerned public authority;

(b) the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be, specifying the particulars of the information sought by him or her.

Provided that where such request cannot be made in writing, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer shall render all reasonable assistance to the person making the request orally to reduce the same in writing.

Section 6(2)

An applicant making a request for information shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any other personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting him.

Section 6(3)

Where an application is made to a public authority requesting information—

(i) which is held by another public authority; or

(ii) the subject matter of which is more closely connected with the functions of another public authority,

the public authority to which such application is made shall transfer the application or such part of it as may be appropriate to that other public authority and inform the applicant immediately about such transfer.

Provided that the transfer of an application shall be made as soon as practicable, but in no case later than five days from the date of receipt of the application.

Explained:

Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, explains how citizens can request information from public authorities in India. It plays an important role in promoting transparency, accountability and good governance by allowing people to access government records without unnecessary procedural difficulties.

Under Section 6(1), an applicant can submit an RTI application in writing or electronically to the concerned Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), State Public Information Officer (SPIO), or the designated Assistant Public Information Officer, as provided by the Act. The application must clearly specify the information required and include the prescribed application fee, where applicable. The request may be made in English, Hindi or the official language of the area.

The provision also protects applicants who cannot prepare a written application. In such cases, the Public Information Officer must provide reasonable assistance to put the request into writing.

One of the most important features of Section 6 is subsection (2). It states that applicants are not required to explain why they want the information or disclose unnecessary personal details, apart from those needed for communication.

Section 6(3) deals with applications submitted to the wrong public authority. If the information is held by another public authority, or the subject matter is more closely connected with its functions, the application or relevant part must be transferred. The applicant must be informed, and the transfer must take place as soon as practicable, within a maximum of five days from receipt.

Important Judgments on Section 6

1. Aseer Jamal v. Union of India (2018): The Supreme Court considered accessibility under the RTI framework and emphasised the statutory assistance available to applicants who cannot independently prepare written requests.

2. Har Kishan v. President Secretariat (2021): The Delhi High Court examined Section 6 and reaffirmed that applicants need not disclose their reasons for seeking information or provide personal details beyond those necessary for contact.

3. Mannatil Kumar v. Central Information Commission (2014): The Kerala High Court clarified that an applicant may seek existing records showing what happened to a representation, but cannot require a public authority to create information that does not exist.

Section 6 therefore provides a practical and accessible procedure for exercising the right to information. Citizens should frame clear requests for identifiable records to obtain more useful responses from public authorities.