Embassy of India, Baghdad, Iraq : Right to Information

Right to Information

RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005:

The Right to Information under the provisions of the RTI Act is available to the citizens of India only. RTI Act is an important legislation designed to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of public authorities.

The full text of the RTI Act is available on the website: https://rti.gov.in/rtiact.asp

The RTI Act also provides for appeals by aggrieved persons to the Central Information Commission of the Government of India.

Indian citizens resident in Iraq may seek information in writing on payment of requisite fee during office hours on working days as per procedure laid down in the RTI Act, 2005.

Contact details of Officers for addressing applications under Right to Information Act, 2005

Central Public Information Officer
Shri Vinod Kumar Sunda
CPIO
Email : cord.baghdad@mea.gov.in

Appellate Authority
Shri Om Prakash Rawat
Second Secretary
Email : pol.baghdad@mea.gov.in

Procedure:

1. Applications seeking information under the Act may be sent along with the prescribed fee in Dollars, equivalent in Indian Rs.10/- in cheque or demand draft favoring Embassy of India, Baghdad.

2. The information provided under the Act is available to citizens of India only. Applications should be submitted along with the documentary proof of Indian citizenship [like copy of personal particulars pages of passport]. More information available at http://rti.gov.in.

3. As per section 6[1] [a] of the RTI Act, 2005, a person who desires to obtain information under the Act is required to submit the application to the Information Officer of the ‘concerned Public Authority’. Applicants are, therefore, advised to send their requests under the RTI act to the Mission only when the subject matter can reasonably be presumed to pertain to the Mission. While section 6[3] provides for the transfer of an application by a receiving PIO to another [concerned] PIO, this is clearly meant to cover situations where the application is addressed to a PIO on the assumption that it has been directed to the concerned PIO. Where the information required obviously does not pertain to the Mission, the application may be addressed to the concerned PIO directly.

Payment of RTI fee online - Electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO)

The scheme of Electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO) has been launched by the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in association with Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). This would enable the Indian citizens abroad to pay the RTI fee online. An Indian Postal Order can be purchased electronically by paying a fee on-line through e-Post Office Portal or through India Post website. The web-links for payment are:
http://www.indiapost.gov.in/
https://www.epostoffice.gov.in/

The Credit Card or Debit Card of any bank powered by Visa/ Master can be used for this purpose.

Information about the Embassy of India, Baghdad as required under Section 4(1) (b) of RTI, Act, 2005.

(i)	The particulars of the Embassy of India, its organization, functions and duties;	The Mission is headed by Ambassador and has following departments (1) Consular, (2) Administration (3) Commercial (4) Education and Culture. The functions of the Embassy, inter alia, include development of relations between India and Iraq, Cultural exchanges, promotion of economic, trade and commercial relations, issue of Passports, Visas, Consular services and OCI cards. The Embassy functions within the purview of business allocated to the Ministry of External Affairs under the Government of India’s Allocation of Business Rules and Transaction of Business Rules.
(ii)	The powers and duties of its officers and employees;	General Administrative powers are derived from IFS (PLCA) Rules, as amended from time to time. Financial powers of the officers of the Consulate have been detailed in the Delegated Financial Powers of the Government of India’s Representative Abroad. Powers regarding Consular and Passport, Visa, etc. are derived from the Passport, Consular and Visa Manuals. The officials of the Mission function under the guidance and supervision of the Ministry of External Affairs under the Govt. of India.
(iii)	The procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability;	Decisions are taken under the instructions and supervision of the Ambassador.
(iv)	The norms set by it for the discharge of its functions	Norms are set under the instructions and supervision of the Ambassador.
(v)	The rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions;	IFS (PLCA) Rules, Delegated Financial Powers of Government of India’s Representative Abroad Rules, Passport Manual, Visa Manual and Consular Manual, Manuals on Office Procedures and other central government rules and manuals published by Central Government.
(vi)	A statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control;	Classified Documents / files relating to bilateral relations between India and Iraq. Unclassified documents / files relating to joint statements, declarations, agreements and MoUs between India & Iraq. Documents / files relating to Cultural and Commercial activities, Passport and Consular services including records of Passports and Consular and Visa services rendered.
(vii)	The particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof;	The Embassy functions within the norms set by the Ministry of External Affairs. Policy is implemented by the Embassy under the guidance and supervision of the Ambassador.
(viii)	A statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public;	The Embassy interacts regularly with representatives of the local government, elected representatives, academicians, Chambers of Commerce, Think-Tanks, NRIs, etc.
(ix)	A directory of its officers and employees;	The *directory* of officials
(x)	The monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations;	The statement of salaries is at *Annex-I*
(xi)	The budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made;	The Budget figures for the current financial year 2021-22 are given in the statement at *Annex-II*
(xii)	The manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programme	The Embassy of India does not have any subsidy programme.
(xiii)	Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it;	No concessions/permits are granted by the Embassy.
(xiv)	Details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form;	The Embassy of India Baghdad’s website has the required information. May please visit https://www.eoibaghdad.gov.in/ & (Social Media platforms pages:- 1. Facebook: @IndiainIraq, Instagram: @indiainiraq, Twitter: @EI_Baghdad). Embassy also makes available to interested individuals various Brochures, CDs and DVDs containing information on India, its people and culture.
(xv)	The particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use;	The Embassy is open from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, or 0900 hrs to 1730 hrs from Monday to Friday. The holidays observed by the Embassy are given on the website www.eoibaghdad.gov.in. All relevant information is made available through the Embassy's website, a library cum reading room from 0900 hrs to 1200 hrs and from 1400 hrs to 1630 hrs on working days.
(xvi)	The names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers;	Public Information Officer Rajbir Sharma Attache Email : attacheadm.baghdad@mea.gov.in Appellate Authority Shri Om Prakash Rawat Second Secretary Email : pol.baghdad@mea.gov.in
(xvii)	Such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year;	Information is available on Embassy’s website eoibaghdad@gov.in which is updated on a regular basis.