Right to Information

It is a Fundamental Right that is guaranteed under the Constitution under Article 19 [specifically Article 19(1) (a)] and Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) of the Constitution of India.

• It is a human right to access information that is related to the person’s day-to-day utilities.
• The availability of relevant information makes a citizen responsible and keeps him informed about the Government’s functionalities (public authorities).
• The RTI promotes the principle of good governance since it is seen as a gateway to improving participatory democracy, which is used for the people’s benefit. Citizens in a democracy are empowered by access to information because it encourages them to scrutinise the government’s decisions and policies.

Right to Information Act:

• The goal of RTI is to establish a practical framework for citizens’ access to information and usher in a new era of transparency. Its goal is to provide Indian people with a practical Right to Information policy that allows citizens to access information about government agencies in order to increase transparency and accountability in their operations. It takes the place of the previous Freedom of Information Act, which was passed in 2002.

Summary Provisions:

• Any citizen may request information from a body that is declared a “public authority”.
• Every public authority is required by law to appoint an Information Officer who will offer information to the public upon request.
• It establishes a 30-day timeframe for submitting data. The timeline is 48 hours if the information concerns an individual’s life or liberty.
• People living in poverty have access to free information. Others consider information fees to be appropriate.
• The Act imposes an obligation on bodies declared as public authorities to disclose the information suo-moto such that the citizens will have as much as possible readymade information available without having to specifically apply for it. It is necessary for public authorities to computerise their records in order to ensure widespread and proactive distribution.
• It establishes a Central Information Commission (CIC) at the Central level and State Information Commissions at the state level (at the level of states). They are highlevel autonomous entities that have the authority of a civil court to act as appellate authorities.
• The CIC has jurisdiction over all Central Public Authorities, and the information commissioners can provide access to material that has not been revealed by a public authority if the public interest outweighs the risk to protected individuals.
• The Act supersedes the Official Secrets Act (OSA) of 1923. RTI says that if there is any conflict between the RTI and OSA, the RTI will prevail.
• All categories of exempted information should be disclosed after 20 years. Information connected to cabinet deliberations, information that affects security, strategic, scientific, or economic interests, ties with other nations, or information that leads to incitement of an offence is the exception.