The Right to Information Act was enacted to provide for the legal right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of the public authorities, in order to promote transparency and accountability in the workings of every public authority.
Objectives of the Right to Information Act 2005
- To empower the citizens
- To promote transparency and accountability
- To contain corruption and
- To enhance people’s participation in the democratic process.
Features of RTI Act 2005
The Act provides for the appointment of Information Commissioners at the Central and State levels. Public authorities have designated some of its officers as Public Information Officers.
Time period: In the normal course, information to an applicant is to be supplied within 30 days from the receipt of the application by the public authority.
If the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it shall be supplied within 48 hours.
Relevant Sections of the RTI Act
Section 1(2) – It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Section 2(f) – “Information” means any material in any form, including Records, Documents, Memos, e-mails, Opinions, Advice, Press releases, Circulars, Orders, Logbooks, Contracts, Reports, Papers, Samples, Models, Data material held in any electronic form 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.
Section 4 – suo-motu disclosure of information by each public authority. However, such disclosures have remained less than satisfactory.
Section 8 (1) mentions exemptions against furnishing information under RTI Act.
Section 8 (2) provides for disclosure of information exempted under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 if a larger public interest is served.
RTI (Amendment) Bill, 2019
The Bill removes this provision and states that the central government will notify the term of office for the CIC and the ICs.
The Bill removes these provisions and states that the salaries, allowances, and other terms and conditions of service of the central and state CIC and ICs will be determined by the Central government
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