3rd Assignment of Research Method

MUHAMMAD NOUMAN WASEEM

B-24305

Section: A

LLB 9th Semester

USA
 Right to Information & Enforcement

Abstract:
In this research we've discussed about the fundamental right to information and it's application &
enforcement in our legal systems, it's benefits and current situations. It's relation to the delivery of the
complete legal remedy to those who seek to use it. Most of all the work of government and media
agencies towards common people about their right to information and to seek their remedy in case of
issues attaining it through application and appeal, also the negligence of authorities and most of all it's
awareness among the people.

Introduction:
Right to information deals with the basic right to access information from public bodies which is
necessary to be accessed for personal and public purposes under legal boundaries which may be used in
favor of public interest. As to the matter of its enforcement, Information Commission has been playing a
vital role all over the province to make such law effective and fruitful.

Right to Information:

As described in Article 19-A of Constitution of Pakistan 1973:

Every citizen shall have the right to have access to information in all matters of public importance subject
to regulation and reasonable restrictions imposed by law.

As described in Article 19-A of Constitution of India 1950:

RTI (Right to information) is a fundamental right of every citizen of India to have the right to have access
to information in all matters of public importance subject to regulation and reasonable restriction imposed
by law.

Punjab Information Commission:

The PIC is self-governing public body made for the enforcement of the Punjab Transparency and RTI Act
2013. It was established under section 5 of this Act duly devoted with powers of Civil Court. Its functions
include disposal of RTI Appeals filed against the orders of PIOs, to promoting awareness throughout the
province, to train PIOs, to provide mechanism for public bodies and the Commission to implement the law and
to make annual reports.

Punjab State Information Commission:

The Punjab State Information Commission is a statutory body, set up under the Right to Information Act in
2005 under the Government of India to act upon complaints from those individuals who have not been able to
submit information requests to State Public Information Officer due to either the officer not have been
appointed, or because the respective State Assistant Public Information Officer refused to receive the
application for information under the Right to Information Act.

Literature Review:

Pakistan:

In last 4 years, ever since its establishment in 2018, Punjab Information Commission, (PIC) has been
carrying out its legal responsibilities enforcing the RIT Act 2017. The PIC has received of 2474 appeals,
out of which 2153 were received through post and 321 were received via website and by mails
(information management system), developed by the commission to enable citizens to file appeals online.

1030 appeals were resolved and the information requested by appellants was provided to the appellants
and case closing certificates were shared with both the parties (appellants and the respondents).

India

The Central Information Commission is a statutory body, set up under the Right to Information Act in
2005 under the Government of India to act upon complaints from those individuals who have not been
able to submit information requests to a State Public Information Officer due to either the officer not have
been appointed or because the respective State Assistant Public Information Officer refused to receive the
application for information under the Right to Information Act.
The highest increase in terms of the absolute number of RTI applications filed in 2021-22 was reported by
public authorities under the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Almost 78,000 more RTI requests were
filed with this ministry as compared with the figures reported in 2020-21. This is a 123 per cent increase,
the report said the highest percentage increase in RTI applications was reported by the Union Ministry of
Tribal Affairs at 131.79 per cent. In 2021-22, this ministry reported 1,852 RTI applications as compared
with only 799 in 2020-21. The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare reported an 85.86 per
cent increase in the RTI application figures for 2021-22 (14,127) as compared with the figures for 2020-
21 (7,601).

Problems:

 Very low awareness among the masses

 No coverage by media agencies

RTI & PIC is working efficiently since 2018 but still there is no awareness among the people of Punjab.
People doesn’t know about even there is a right to access information in our fundamental rights provided
by Constitution of Pakistan 1973 under Article 19A. They also don’t know about PIC that there is such
effective body that has been working from a long time and provides great aid to the ones who want to
avail information from public bodies.

The one thing which affects the acknowledgment of RTI and PIC is spreading no awareness at all by the
media agencies of Punjab which makes the people unknown of their fundamental right and way to use it
legally. Also, the government media agencies such as news channels, newspapers and social media
doesn’t pay any attention nor display it. There have been cases conducted by PIC of too much fame like
Tosha Khana & Gym Khana case but media agencies didn’t show the PIC working greatly behind such
cases instead the heat is only on the cases and the persons on whom the cases have been proceeded.

Recommendations:

 PIC should schedule public events twice or thrice a year for the awareness of existence and its
working and RTI so that people can get to know about it and use it for their legal means.
  Punjab Transparency and RTI Act 2013 must be included in legal studies such as LLB, LLM,
M.Phil., so that the young generation must know about its use and benefits in legal terms.

 Media agencies should not be biased and affiliated to political parties which discourages them to
spread knowledge of RTI & PIC for their political benefits and must reveal the body and working
of RTI to the people.

 Political parties and government should leave their political means aside, government should
present by posters and banners in public places so the people can be introduced to and must not
deprive the people of Punjab from the information of exercising their RTI via appeal in PIC.

Conclusion:

It is a basic right of our citizens to have information for legal means from public bodies all over the
Punjab. PIC is working under Punjab Transparency and RTI Act 2013 competently from years and
delivers the complete legal remedy to those who seek to use it. But the people don’t know even about its
presence and enforcement. Government and media agencies should feast the common people about their
right to information and to seek their remedy in case of issues attaining it through appeal in PIC.