Public Information Officers (PIOs) are officers designated by the public authorities in all administrative units or offices under it to provide information to the citizens requesting for information under the Act.

Appointment of PIOs is mandatory for a 'public authority'. If PIOs have not been appointed, complaint can be made to the State Chief Information Commissioner.
For list of PIOs, click here

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• PIO shall deal with requests from persons seeking information and where the request cannot be made in writing, to render reasonable assistance to the person to reduce the same in writing.
  
  
• If the information requested for is held by or its subject-matter is closely connected with the function of another public authority, the PIO shall transfer, within 5 days, the request to that other public authority and inform the applicant immediately.
  
  
• PIO, on receipt of a request, shall within 30 days of the receipt of the request, either provide the information on payment of such fee as may be prescribed or reject the request for any of the reasons specified in Sections 8 and 9 of the act.
  
  
• Where the information requested for concerns the life or liberty of a person, the same shall be provided within 48 hours of the receipt of the request.
  
  
• If the PIO fails to give decision on the request within the period specified, he shall be deemed to have refused the request.
  
  
• Where a request has been rejected, the PIO shall communicate to the applicant:
  (i) the reasons for such rejection,
  (ii) the period within which an appeal against such rejection may be preferred, and
  (iii) the particulars of the Appellate Authority.
  
  
• PIO shall provide information in the form in which it is sought unless it would disproportionately divert the resources of the 'public authority' or would be detrimental to the safety or preservation of the record in question (be specific and aviod asking for voluminous information).
  
  
• If allowing partial access, the PIO shall give a notice to the applicant, informing him about the reasons for allowing partial access and names of PIOs who took the decision.
  
  
• If information sought has been supplied by third party or is treated as confidential by that third party, the PIO shall give a written notice to the third party within 5 days from the date of request to make a representation. Third party shall be given 10 days to make a represetation.

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