The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that during COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Information Commission had taken steps to facilitate hearing of second Appeals/Complaints through audio/video facilities by intensive use of technology. In a written reply in Rajya Sabha today, he said that as far as Central Information Commission is concerned, a total number of 4491 online requests have been processed since March, 2020 to 17.09.2020.

RTI Online portal (https://rtionline.gov.in) has already been put in place by Department of Personnel and Training since August 2013 to help citizens in filing RTI Applications, First and Second Appeals with the Public Authorities aligned there. Further, Central Information Commission has in place the facility of Audio/Video hearing even before COVID-19 pandemic and all the second Appeals/Complaints cases outside Delhi have been adjudicated through NIC studios at various district headquarters in various states, as suitable for the Appellant and Respondent.

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