What is RTI?
The Right to Information Act, 2005 is legislation that provides Indian citizens with the right to access information held by the government. It was enacted on October 12, 2005, and came into force on October 13 of the same year. The Right to Information Act is often abbreviated as RTI.
What is the objective of Right to Information?
The Right to Information (RTI) is an Act of the Parliament of India that aims to provide citizens with access to government information. The RTI Act was passed by the Parliament in 2005 and came into force on 15 October 2005. The RTI Act provides for a mechanism to request information from a public authority that is required to reply within 30 days.
Under the RTI Act, any person can request information from a public authority, which is required to reply within 30 days. The RTI Act also provides for a mechanism to appeal against the refusal of information by a public authority.
What are the uses of RTI?
There are many uses of RTI including:
- To get information about the public authority’s performance
- To access records held by the public authority
- To request information in a particular form
- To complain if you are not satisfied with the response to your request for information
- To seek review of the decision of the public authority in relation to your request for information
- To get information about the reasons for a particular decision made by the public authority
- To get information about the procedures followed by the public authority in making a particular decision
- To get information about the policies and guidelines of the public authority
Who can apply for RTI?
Any Indian citizen can file an RTI application. There is no need to give any reason for why you are seeking the information. We also do not need to disclose your identity when filing an RTI application.
How to file RTI?
- You can file an RTI request online, by post or in person
- You can find the application form for RTI on the website of the Central Information Commission (CIC)
- The application form is in PDF format and can be downloaded from the website
- You will need to provide your name, address and contact details on the form
- You will also need to provide the name of the public authority you are asking for information from
- You will need to state the purpose of your request and the specific information you are seeking
- You will also need to provide the relevant dates and file an affidavit stating that all the information provided is true to the best of your knowledge
- You can find a sample RTI application on the website of CIC
- Once you have filled in the form, you can submit it online, by post or in person
- You will need to pay a fee
- The application should be sent to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the public authority you are asking for information from
- If you do not receive a response within the stipulated time frame, you can file an appeal with the Information Commissioner
What is the difference between RTI and anti-corruption law?
The Right to Information (RTI) is a tool that helps citizens access government information, while the anti-corruption law punishes public officials who abuse their power. Also, the RTI is a right guaranteed by the Constitution, while the anti-corruption law is a law passed by Parliament.
Another difference between RTI and the anti-corruption law is that the RTI applies to all government institutions, while the anti-corruption law only applies to central government institutions.
Conclusion
The Right to Information is a powerful tool that allows citizens access to government-held information. It enables people to participate in the democratic process and hold their leaders accountable. This right is enshrined in many international human rights treaties and national laws, making it a fundamental principle of open societies. In this post, we’ve outlined the basics of the Right to Information, including who has the right to access information, what types of information are covered, and how to make a request for information.