Having known few terms used in RTI in previous article let us know who PIO and APIO are:
PIO(Public Information Officer) :Public authorities(Public authority means office) have designated some of its officers as Public Information Officer.At central insitutions they are known as CPIO’s(Central public information officers). At state level they are known as SPIO’s(state public information officers).They are responsible to give information to a person who seeks information under the RTI Act.
APIO(Assistant Public Information Officer):These are the officers at sub-divisional level to whom a person can give his RTI application or appeal. These officers send the application or appeal to the Public Information Officer(PIO) of the public authority or the concerned appellate authority. An Assistant Public Information Officer is not responsible to supply the information.The same terminology as in PIO follows:at central level they are called central assistant public information officer and at state level as state assistant public information officer.
The Assistant Public Information Officers appointed by the Department of Posts in various post offices are working as Assistant Public Information Officers for all the public authorities under the Government of India(ie.Central government).Click here to know the APIO near your area.
NOTE:Post Offices are not designated APIO’s for the CIC(Central Information commission)
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