Filed RTI

I have made my first “Right to Information” (RTI) application with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) at Madurai. There is a lot of abstraction with regards to re-registration of out-of-state vehicle.

Form 28 (”No Objection Certificate”) is usually required to re-register an out-of-state vehicle - as per the Motor Vehicle Authority (MVA) regulation in India. Ironically, “Intimation of Transfer of Ownership of Vehicle” (Form 30) states that in the absence of Form 28, a declaration by the Transferor (person selling the vehicle) as per subsection (1) of section (50) is deemed acceptable.

I wonder what is the declaration format of subsection(1) of section (50). Since, the Officials at RTO are reluctant (as always) in divulging the *right* information, an RTI is mandated. I will wait for another 35 days to get a suitable reply from the RTO. If not, I will file a second appeal.

For the reader: State Government amendments to the RTI Act of 2005 is bit worrying. Already, States have minor changes to the way an RTI can be filed. Court Fee stamp is accepted by certain States while others prefer Challan or DD payment. Karnataka Government has imposed a restriction of number of words per RTI application and so on… Another article of interest from THE HINDU.

Questions raised in my RTI Application:

(1)    Is “No Objection Certificate” (NOC) (Form 28) mandatory for out-of-station registration? In the absence of NOC, what is the alternative?
(2)    “Intimation and Transfer of Ownership” Form (Form 30) states that in the absence of NOC, the Transferor should file along with the application a declaration as required under sub-section (1) of section 50. Please list the format of the declaration in detail.
(3)    Can the above declaration be made on a white paper or should it be on a non-judicial paper? If Court Fee Stamp is applicable, please indicate the value to be affixed. List out relevant details.
(4)    Is the declaration (as per point 2 - above) applicable to all categories of vehicles? If not, list the applicable categories.
(5)    Should the concerned vehicle be physically present in order to obtain a NOC? In what cases can a vehicle be exempted from physical appearance for granting NOC.
(6)    Is it the duty of the RTO to seek for and obtain Police Clearance Report or is it the duty of the Applicant? If it is not the duty of RTO, please explain the reasons in detail.
(7)    If it is the duty of the RTO to obtain Police Clearance Report, what is the time line to do so?
(8)    What is the processing time to endorse Form 28?
(9)    Can the concerned Officer reject a request for re-registration without Form 28 but duly signed declaration? If yes, please list out the reasons in detail.
(10)    Can a request to endorse Form 28 be made through Registered Post? If not, please list out the reasons in detail