Power is derived from knowledge and information is the basic component of knowledge.

-Michael Foucault RTI act marks a significant shift for Indian democracy. Now it becomes a participatory democracy. In participatory democracy people elect their leader to govern them, but governance is not the monopoly of few elected leaders. When governance becomes the privilege of select few or when the people kept out of the affairs of governance, it degenerates into misgovernnance and becomes a travesty to democracy. It has taken India 82 years to transition from an opaque system of governance legitimized by the colonial official secret act to one where citizen can demand right to information. Right to information is defined in sec 2(j) as a right to information accessible under the act which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes a right to (i) inspection of work, documents, records, (ii) taking notes, extracts or certified copies of document or records, (iii) taking separate sample of material,(iv) obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, videos cassette, or in any electronic mode or through print outs where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device. Before the enactment of RTI act the citizen are not supposed to interfere in the functioning of the government or to ask about any procedure and information related to public works. There was dominancy of red tape and culture of secrecy in public authorities. The mindset and behavior pattern of government official was rigid towards general public. There was no transparency, accountability, accessibility, in public authorities while discharging their works, or there was no so called good governance. Over the years, the supreme court has consistently ruled in the favour of citizen`s right to know, like in the case of Bennett coleman v. union of India (AIR 1973 SC 60) the apex court held that right to information act should be included within the right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by art. 19 (a). It was in 2005 the right to information act enacted. By this act the citizen`s are empowered like never before. He can now question, audit, review, examine and assess government acts and decision to ensure that these are consistent with the principle of public interest, good governance and justice. It has increased accessibility, accountability, transparency, and participation of the common citizen in the public affairs. Ultimately it empowered the citizen. By this act they can seek any needy information which benefits them. There are various examples like the case of Mazloom Nadaf ,