Government of Tripura
General Administration (AR) Department
Agartala,Tripura

Some important definitions given in the Act

For the purpose of forming an idea about the scheme of the Act  the following definitions given in the Act are notable :-

(1) Information 

“Information” means any material in any form , including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, log-books, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force. [Sec-2(f)]

(2)Public authority

“Public authority” means any authority or body or institution of self government established or constituted –

(a) by or under the Constitution;

(b) by any other law made by Parliament;

(c) by any other law made by State Legislature;

(d) by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government, and includes any –

(i) body owned, controlled or substantially financed;

(ii) non-Government organization substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government. [Sec-2(h)]

(3) Public Information Officer (PIO)

There are two categories of Public Information Officers under the Act, namely, (a) Central Public Information Officers and (b) State Public Information Officers.   

(a) Central Public Information Officer (CPIO)

A central Public Information Officer is an officer who is designated as such by a Public Authority under the Central Government.

(b) State Public Information Officer (SPIO)

A State Public Information Officer is an officer who is designated as such by a Public Authority under the State Government.

In the Act a State Public Information Officer has been defined in the following ways:-

(i) A State Public information officer is an officer who is designated as such by a public authority for the purpose of providing information to the people who may request for information. [Sec-5(1)]

(ii) A State Public Information Officer also includes a State Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO) designated under section 5(2) of the Act. [Sec-2(m)]

(iii) An officer whose assistance is sought by any State Public Information Officer for rendering him any assistance shall also be deemed to be a State Public Information Officer for the purpose of contravention of any of the provisions of the Act. [Sec-5(5)].

(4) State Assistant Public Information Officer (SAPIO)–

“State Assistant Public Information Officer” has not been defined in the Act.  But  it has been provided in the Act  that  a State Public Information Officer also includes a State Assistant Public Information Officer.  [ Sec-2(m)].  

However,  it may be said that  a State Assistant Public Information Officer is an officer designated as such  by a public authority for the purpose of  receiving applications for information or appeals under the Act and forwarding the same  to the  State Public Information Officer or  the  First Appellate Authority. [Sec-5(2)].

 (5) Record

                        “Record” includes –

(a) any document, manuscript and file;

(b) any micro-film, micro-fiche and facsimile  copy of a document;

©  any reproduction of image or images embodied in such micro-film (whether enlarged or not); and

(d) any other material produced by a computer or any other device. [Sec-2(i)]

(6) Right to information

“Right to information” means the right to information accessible under the Act which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to

(a) inspection of work, documents, records;

(b) taking notes, extracts and certified copies of documents or records;

(c) taking certified samples of material;

(d) obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in computer or any other device. [Sec-2(j)]

These instructions prepared in consultation with the Law Department of the State Government & issued on Public Interest  by Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Tripura, General Administration (AR) Department.