Right To Information U1

Definition of Right to Information
As defined under section 2 (j) of the RTI Act, Right to Information means the right to access information
as per the provisions of this Act, which is held by or under the control of any public authority and
includes the right to;
1.inspection of the work, documents, records;
2.taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records;
taking certified sample of material;
3.obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other
electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or any device.
*The right to information gained power when Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in
1948 providing everyone the right to seek, receive, information and ideas through any media and
regardless of frontiers.
*According to Thomas Jefferson “Information is the currency of democracy,” and critical to the
emergence and development of a vibrant civil society. However, with a view to set out a practical
regime for the citizens to secure information as a matter of right, the Indian Parliament enacted the
Right to Information Act, 2005.
*Genesis of RTI law started in 1986, through judgement of Supreme Court in Mr. Kulwal v/s Jaipur
Municipal Corporation case, in which it directed that freedom of speech and expression provided under
Article 19 of the Constitution clearly implies Right to Information, as without information the freedom of
speech and expression cannot be fully used by the citizens.
Right to Information Objective

The Right to Information Act’s main objectives are to empower citizens, encourage transparency and
accountability in governmental operations, fight corruption, and ensure that our democracy actually
serves the needs of the people. It should go without saying that a well-informed citizen is better able to
maintain the necessary oversight of governance mechanisms and hold the government accountable to
the governed. The Act is an important step in educating the public about government operations.
The RTI Act’s Characteristics:
1.Section 1(2): It covers the entire country of India, excluding the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
2.Section 2: 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 that a Public Authority can access under any other law currently
in force are all examples of “information.”
3.Section 2(j): “Right to Information” refers to the right to inspect work, documents, and records held by
or under the control of any public authority, as well as the right to take notes, extracts, or certified
copies of documents or records, to take certified samples of material, and to obtain information on
diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes, or any other electronic mode or through printouts.
4.Section 4 of the RTI Act requires public authorities to disclose information on their own initiative. Such
disclosures, however, have proven insufficient.
5.Exemptions from disclosing information are mentioned in Section 8 (1) of the RTI Act.
6.Section 8 (2) enables the disclosure of material exempted by the Official Secrets Act of 1923 if a higher
public interest is served.
Need for Right to Information Act:
Corruption was increasing in our country rapidly. People were not aware of the ways in which the public
funds were being utilized. Thus, it was necessary to pass the right to Information from the central or
state government. The act is also applicable to corporate organizations wherein the employees have the
right to know of information related to them.
Importance of Right to Information:
1.The 2005 RTI Act did not create a new bureaucracy to carry out the provisions of the law.
2.Instead, it charged and required officials at all levels of government to alter their mindsets and
responsibilities away from secrecy and toward sharing and transparency.
3.It was designed to make the Information Commission the country’s highest authority, with the power
to order any office in the country to provide information in compliance with the act’s requirements.
4.It also empowered the Commission to sanction any official who disobeyed the directive.
5.The right to knowledge has long been seen as an important component of strengthening participatory
democracy and establishing people-centered governance.
6.Access to information can help the poor and vulnerable seek and receive information about
government policies and actions, which can improve their well-being.

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