JUDGMENT

The writ petitioner is challenging Rule 4(4) of the Kerala Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2006 (hereinafter the ‘Kerala RTI Rules’) to the extent it prescribes that the free supply of materials to persons below the poverty line shall be restricted to 20 pages only, as it is violative of the parent Act, the Right to Information Act, 2005 (hereinafter ‘the RTI Act’).

2. The petitioner, who is an RTI activist and an active member of Bodhi Vivaravakasa Samrakshana Sena, belongs to the below-the- poverty-line category and submitted an application under the RTI Act seeking information from the Co-operative Society Registrar regarding audit reports and other details of Puthenvelikkara Service Co-operative Bank and Elanthikkara Women Co-operative Sangham. In response, Ext. P2 letter dated 25.10.2023 was issued, directing the petitioner to pay Rs.30/- for copies under RTI. It is specified in the letter that, as per Rule 4(4) of the Kerala RTI Rules, no fee shall be charged from persons below the poverty line, provided that the free supply of material shall be restricted to 20 pages only. The petitioner submits that, under Rule 7(5) of the RTI Act, it is p