RIGHT TO INFORMATION

ACT(2005)
WHAT IS THE RIGHT OF INFORMATION
ACT?
• RTI stands for Right to Information. Right to
Information Act 2005 mandates timely response to
citizen requests for government information. Right to
Information empowers every citizen to seek any
information from the Government, inspect any
Government documents and seek certified photocopies
thereof. Right to Information also empowers citizens to
official inspect any Government work or to take the
sample of material used in any work.

• Right to Information is a part of fundamental rights

under Article 19(1) of the Constitution. Article 19 (1) says
that every citizen has freedom of speech and expression
OBJECTIVE OF THE RTI ACT:
The basic object of the Right to Information Act is
to empower the citizens, promote transparency
and accountability in the working of the
Government, contain corruption, and make our
democracy work for the people in real sense. An
informed citizenry will be better equipped to
keep necessary vigil on the instruments of
government and make the government more
accountable to the governed.
HOW DOES THE RTI HELP US:
• Under the provisions of the Act, any citizen may request
information from a “public authority” (a body of Government
or “instrumentality of State”) which is required to reply
expeditiously or within thirty days. The Act also requires
every public authority to computerize their records so that
information is available to the citizens.

• Right to Information includes the right to: Inspect works,

documents, records. Take notes, extracts or certified copies of
documents or records. Take certified samples of material.
Obtain information in form of printouts, video, cassettes or in
any other electronic mode and information relating to any
private body which can be accessed by a public authority
under any other law for the time being in force.
WHAT IS COVERED UNDER THE RTI:
• The Central RTI Act extends to the whole of India except
the State of Jammu and Kashmir. All bodies, which are
constituted under the Constitution or under any law or
under any Government notification or all bodies,
including NGOs, which are owned, controlled or
substantially financed by the Government are covered.

• All private bodies, which are owned, controlled or

substantially financed by the Government are directly
covered. Others are indirectly covered. That is if a
government department can access 1information from
any private body under any other Act, the same can be
accessed by the citizen under the RTI Act through that
government department.
HOW SUCCESSFUL IS THE RTI
• RTI act can be said to be very successful tool. It gave
rights and opportunity to common mass to know about
insights of government decision, 2G , and Coal Block
scams were revealed by prashant bhushan with help of
RTI.

• And also because If the concerned officer does not

provide information in time, a penalty of Rs 250 per day
of delay can be imposed by the Information
Commissioner. If the information provided is false, a
penalty of a maximum of Rs 25,000/- can be imposed. A
penalty can also be imposed for providing incomplete or
for rejecting your application for malafide reasons. This
fine is deducted from the officer’s personal salary.
HOW NGOS KEEP TRACK OF
GOVERNMENT WORKINGS:
• It is a reflection of a liberal and resurgent India that
understands the power of knowledge in the hands of the
common man and takes democracy to the grass root
level. It is a major step towards ensuring participatory
governance in the country.

• The NGOs have found a powerful weapon to criticize and

goad the Government on important issues such as
education, health, public distribution system,
maintenance of law and order, human rights,
environmental protection and civic amenities. For the
first time after independence, the Act has brought hope
to the citizens for governance with accountability from
the state.
• The primary function, thus, of a NGO is to act as a
facilitator to strengthen and institutionalize
government-citizen interface.

• NGOs must spread awareness among citizens,

especially women and those living in poverty and
other marginalized sections, so that they actually
exercise their right to access information from
various government offices. Filing of RTI
applications before various public authorities
seeking information relating to public interest must
be encouraged while demonstrating relevance.
• The services of NGOs should be utilized for creation of awareness
and educating masses of the channel through which they can seek
information. The NGOs can be very effective as agents of the state
for implementing the RTI Act. The RTI Act, if used properly, would
ensure qualitative improvement in the functioning of democracy by
ensuring that people, especially from the under privileged and
marginalized sections of the society, have the power of information
and ability to use it properly.
Public Distribution Scam in Assam: In 2007, members of
an anti-corruption non-governmental organization based in
Assam, the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, filed an RTI request
that revealed irregularities in the distribution of food meant for
people below the poverty line. The allegations of corruption
were probed and several government officials arrested.

Appropriation of Relief Funds: Information obtained

through an RTI application by an NGO based in Punjab, in
2008 revealed that bureaucrats heading local branches of the
Indian Red Cross Society used money intended for victims of
the Kargil war and natural disasters to buy cars, air-
conditioners and pay for hotel bills – among other things. Local
courts charged the officials found responsible with fraud and the
funds were transferred to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.