Citizens using RTI have not been able to access status reports on their applications from the RTI portal since the start of the year. The portal asks for a one-time password (OTP), which is supposed to be sent to the applicant’s email. But, RTI activists, told TOI, the OTP is either not received or if they get it, it doesn’t work. Despite repeated complaints to the RTI helpline and to the department of personnel and training, the ‘glitch’ has not been fixed.
“The method followed earlier was more user friendly. Why do they need to add one more step to access information, which is a citizen’s right? Why is an OTP needed after entering the RTI application number, email ID and the security code for viewing the RTI reply/status?” asked Dr KV Babu, an ophthalmologist and RTI activist.
When the applicant tries to find out the status of their application, they get a message stating: “Email OTP may take time. As soon as you enter the email OTP you can see the status of the RTI request/appeal. Time limit for OTP is not there.”
“I am able to file an RTI application seeking information, but I cannot check the status as the site asks for an OTP. But I did not get any OTP. Without it, there is no way I can check the status of my application,” said another frequent user of the RTI portal, Dr Aman Kaushik.
“For bank transactions, you get the OTP almost immediately. Why is govt unable to do the same for the RTI portal? And how can they say that there is no time limit for the OTP? I got an SMS message on my phone informing me that the reply to my RTI application is ready. But there is no way I can access it because of this OTP mess,” said Dr Babu, adding that not only has this made seeking information through RTI more complicated, it has also delayed the whole process, negating the right of a citizen under the RTI law .
There was no response to the helpline complaints or to TOI’s queries to the Press Information Bureau regarding the dysfunctional RTI portal.
Rema Nagarajan
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