By
Muskaan Sharma, III year of B.A.,LL.B, from Asian Law College.
ABSTRACT
The Right to information Act was created to realize social justice, transparency and to form responsible government however, this act has not achieved its full objectives because of some impediments created because of systematic failures. As ascertained by the city tribunal, the misuse of the RTI Act has got to be suitably dealt with; otherwise the general public would lose religion and confidence during this "sunshine Act”. It is well-recognized that the right to information is important. However, not sufficient to boost governance. Tons a lot of has to be done to start responsibility in governance, together with protection of whistle-blowers, decentralisation of power and fusion of authority with responsibility in any respect levels.
This law provides us an invaluable chance to revamp the processes of governance, significantly at the grass roots level wherever the citizens’ interface is most.
KEYWORDS- Right to information Act, social justice, responsible government, decentralisation of power, fusion of authority.
INTRODUCTION
RTI stands for Right to Information. Right to Information is a part of fundamental rights under Article19(1) of the Constitution. Article 19 (1) says that each citizen has freedom of speech and expression. As early as in 1976, the Supreme Court said in the case of Raj Narain vs State of UP that folks cannot speak or express themselves unless they know. Therefore, right to information is embedded in article 19. In the same case, Supreme Court further said that India may be a democracy. People are the masters. Therefore, the masters have a right to know how the governments meant to serve them, are functioning. Further, every citizen pays taxes. Even a beggar on the street pays tax (in the form of sales tax, excise duty etc.) when he buys a bit of soap from the market. The citizens, therefore, have a right to know how their money was being spent. These three principles were laid down by the Supreme Court while saying that RTI may be a part of our fundamental rights.
OBJECTIVES OF THE ACT
To empower the citizens
To promote transparency and accountability
To contain corruption
To enhance people’s participation in the democratic process.
REASONS FOR ADOPTION OF INFORMATION ACT
The factors responsible for the adoption of information act are as follows-
Corruption and scandals
International pressure and activism
Modernization and the information society
FEATURES OF THE ACT
Section 1(2): It extends to the entire of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Section- 2 (f): "Information" suggests that any material in any type, together with Records, Documents, Memos, e-mails, Opinions, Advices, Press releases, Circulars, Orders, Logbooks, Contracts, Reports, Papers, Samples, Models, knowledge material control in any electronic type and knowledge about any personal body which may be accessed by a Public Authority below the other law for the nowadays in effect.
Section- 2(j): "Right to Information" suggests that the correct to data accessible below this Act is controlled by or below the management of any public authority and includes correct to:
Inspection of labour, documents, records;
Taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records;
Taking certified samples of material;
Obtaining data within the style of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in the other electronic mode or through printouts wherever such data is kept during a pc or in the other device
Section 4: Of the RTI Act needs suo motu revealing of data by every public authority. However, such disclosures have remained but satisfactory.
Section 8 (1) mentions exemptions against furnishing data below the RTI Act.
Section 8 (2) provides for the revealing of data exempted below Official Secrets Act, 1923 if a larger public interest is served. The Act conjointly provides for appointment of data Commissioners at Central and State level. Public authorities have selected a number of its officers as Public Data Officer. they're accountable to grant data to an individual who seeks data below the RTI Act.
Time period: In traditional course, data to a human is to be equipped at intervals thirty days from the receipt of application by the general public authority. If the data wanted issues the life or liberty of an individual, it shall be equipped at intervals 48 hours
In case the application is distributed through the Assistant Public data Officer, or it's sent to a wrong public authority, 5 days shall be value-added to the amount of thirty days or 48 hours because the case could also be.
IMPORTANCE
The RTI Act, 2005 didn't create a new bureaucracy for implementing the law. Instead, it tasked and mandated officers in each workplace to alter their angle and duty from one of secrecy to at least one of sharing and openness.
It fastidiously and deliberately authorized data, the knowledge, the data} Commission to be the very best authority within the country with the mandate to order any workplace within the country to supply, And it authorized the Commission to fine any official who didn't follow the mandate.
Right to information has been seen because the key to strengthening democratic democracy and debuting folks-centered governance. Access to data will empower the poor and, therefore, the weaker sections of society to demand and find data regard public policies and actions, thereby resulting in their welfare.
It showed associate early promise by exposing wrongdoing at high places, like within the organization of the Commonwealth Games, and, therefore, the allocation of 2G spectrum and coal blocks. Right to data unveil government’s records to public scrutiny, thereby mobilizing voters with a significant tool to tell them regarding what the government will and the way effectively, therefore creating Improves deciding by public authority by removing spare secrecy.
CHALLENGES
Different types of knowledge is wanted that have no public interest and are typically is accustomed misuse the law and harass the general public authorities.
RTI was filed as a vindictive tool to harass or pressurize the general public authority
Because of the illiteracy and unconsciousness among the bulk of the population within the country, the RTI can not be exercised.
Though RTI’s aim isn't to make a grievance redressal mechanism, the notices from info Commissions typically spur the general public authorities to redress grievances.
RECENT AMENDMENTS
The RTI amendment Bill 2013 removes political parties from the extent of the definition of public authorities and thence from the ambit of the RTI Act.
The draft provision 2017 that provides for closure of case just in case of death of applier will cause a lot of attacks on the lives of whistle-blowers.
The proposed RTI amendment Act 2018 is geared toward giving the Centre the facility to mend the tenures and salaries of state and central data commissioners. This area unit statutorily move can dilute the autonomy and independence of CIC.
The Act proposes to exchange the mount five-year tenure to the maximum amount prescribed by government.
OTHER ISSUES
Information commissioners don't have adequate authorities to enforce the RTI Act.
In case of award of compensation to an activist by public authority as ordered by the commission, compliance can't be secured.
Poor record-keeping practices
Lack of adequate infrastructure and workers for running data commissions
Dilution of supplementary laws, just like the whistle-blowers protection Act.