The Freedom of Information Act, 2002

2. Definitions.-

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

1. "appropriate Government" means in relation to a public authority established, constituted, owned, substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly or controlled-

1. by the Central Government, the Central Government;
2. by the State Government, the State Government;
3. by the Union territory, the Central Government;

2. "competent authority" means-

1. the Speaker in the case of the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly and the Chairman in the case of the Council of States or the Legislative Council;
2. the Chief Justice of India in the case of the Supreme Court;
3. the Chief Justice of the High Court in the case of a High Court;
4. the President or the Governor, as the case may be, in the case of other authorities created by or under the Constitution;
5. the administrator appointed under article 239 of the Constitution;

3. "freedom of information" means the right to obtain information from any public authority by means of,-

1. inspection, taking of extracts and notes;
2. certified copies of any records of such public authority;
3. diskettes, floppies or in any other electronic mode or through print-outs where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device;

4. "information" means any material in any form relating to the administration, operations or decisions of a public authority;
5. "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act by the appropriate Government or the competent authority, as the case may be;
6. "public authority" means any authority or body established or constituted,-

1. by or under the Constitution;
2. by any law made by the appropriate Government, and includes any other body owned, controlled or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly by the appropriate
   Government;

7. "Public Information Officer" means the Public Information Officer appointed under sub-section (1) of section 5;
8. "record" includes-

1. any document, manuscript and file;
2. any microfilm, microfiche and facsimile copy of a document;
3. any reproduction of image or images embodied in such microfilm (whether enlarged or not); and
4. any other material produced by a computer or by any other device;

8. "third party" means a person other than the person making a request for information and includes a public authority.

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