Section 11, The Right to Access Information Act, 2013

(1) In addition to the items listed in its publicationscheme, a public authority shall also– (a) publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing the decisions which affect the public; (b) provide to any person the reasons for any decision taken by it in relation to that person; (c) before initiating any project or formulating any policy, scheme, programme or law, publish or communicate to the public in general or to the persons likely to be affected by it in particular, the facts available to it or to which it has reasonable access which in its opinion should be known to them in the best interests of natural justice and promotion of democratic principles; (d) unless there are good reasons to the contrary, allow members of the public to attend its meetings at which decisions affecting them are made and shall give adequate notice of the meetings; (e) upon signing a contract shall publish it in the Gazette, detailing at a minimum for each contract– (i) the public works, goods acquired or rented, and the contracted service, including any sketches, scopes of service and terms of reference; (ii) the contract sum; (iii) the name of the provider, contractor or individual to whom the contract has been granted; (iv) the periods within which the contract shall be completed. (2) It is the duty of every public authority to take steps in accordance with its publication scheme and the requirements of subsection (1) to provide information proactively to the public at regular intervals through various media of communication. (3) All materials shall be disseminated taking into consideration the need to reach persons with disability, the cost, local language and the most effective method of communication in that local area; and the information should be easily accessible and be available free or at cost, taking into account the medium used. (4) At a minimum, the material referred to in subsection (1) shall be made available– Model publication schemes. Other proactive obligations. 12 13 (a) for inspection by any person without charge; (b) by supplying a copy to any person on request for which a reasonable charge to cover the costs of copying and supplying them may be made; and (c) on the internet, provided that the materials are held by the authority in electronic format. PART III–EXEMPT INFORMATION