For government employees, the Right to Information Act, 2005 is often the quickest way to obtain copies of their own service book, enquiry file, DPC proceedings or seniority list before approaching the court.
The application
An application under Section 6 is made to the Public Information Officer of the office holding the record, with the prescribed fee (applicants below the poverty line are exempt). The information should be described precisely, with dates and file references where known.
Time for reply
The PIO must reply within 30 days (Section 7(1)), or within 48 hours where the information concerns the life or liberty of a person.
First appeal
If there is no reply, or the reply is incomplete, a first appeal lies to the First Appellate Authority in the same office within 30 days under Section 19(1).
Second appeal
A second appeal lies to the State Information Commission within 90 days of the first appellate decision under Section 19(3). The Commission can also impose penalty on a PIO who fails to supply information without reasonable cause.
Personal information
Information about an employee's own service record is generally available to that employee. Personal information of other employees, such as their service book or assets, is usually refused under Section 8(1)(j), following Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. CIC, (2013) 1 SCC 212, unless a larger public interest is shown.
This article is general information on the law as it stood when written. It is not legal advice. Every service matter turns on its own service record, rules and orders, which should be examined before any step is taken.