On Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) informed that the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) is not a ‘public authority’ under the ambit of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, in response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005.
The RTI application was made by one Harsha Kandukuri on April 1, seeking seeking copies of the trust deed of PM Cares Fund, and all Government orders, notifications and circulars relating to its creation and operation.
Disposing of the application on May 29, the Public Information Officer of PMO said:
"PM CARES Fund is not a public authority under the ambit of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. However, relevant information in respect of PM CARES Fund may be seen on the website pmcares.gov.in".
Under the RTI Act, a public authority is an organisation established (a) under or by the Constitution (b) by any other law made by the parliament or (c) by a notification or order issued by the government. The definition also covers organisations financed substantially by the government and non-governmental organisations.
The PM CARES Fund was created on 28 March 2020, "with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like posed by the COVID-19 pandemic".
