Introduction of Right to Information Act 2005

Introduction of Right to Information Act 2005 

• Right to Information basically deals with the basic right of the people to fight against Corruption and Inefficiency in the Government at various levels. In simple words we can say that citizens can ask for anything that Government can disclose to Parliament. RTI first developed by Sweden in 1766. Tamil Nadu is the first state to pass RTI Law in the year 1997. 
• Right to Information Consist of :
• It has 6 chapters. 
• 31 Sections   
• It has 2 schedule
• Schedule- 1 promotes the Establishment of District, State and Central Level Information Commissions as an Appellate Body so that all records which are appropriate can easily accessible online. Schedule 2 the act contains the names of the Intelligence and Security Organization which are exempted from the purview of the Act. RTI bill was passed on 15 June 2005 by the Parliament of India and came into force on 13 Oct 2005. The main motive of the act is to empower citizens to promote openness and Accountability or Transparency in Government Operation and fought for corruption to make our Democracy truly function for people. RTI is a Fundamental Right under Article 19 [1] of the Constitution. This Right was included in the Constitution after the judgment passed by the Supreme Court in the case of Raj Narain vs. The State of UP. Section 2 of the act defines the type of the information that people have the right to ask they are records, documents, memos, e-mails, advices, press release, circulars, orders, contracts, reports and papers. There are some Department were people are exempted from this Right as they are confidential information against the opponent which can’t be reveal publically. The RTI is a Constitutional as well as Legal Right also. The State Government is granted the right to make any Amendment in the Act as per their own requirement and knowledge. Any Department who don’t give any information they are charged with penalty of Rs. 250/- per day and in the case they provided wrong information than they are charged with penalty of Rs. 25,000/- maximum. RTI encourage participation of people in Democracy. Some recent Amendment that took place recently is the RTI Amendment bill 2013, 2017 and 2018. One of such Amendment that took place recently in which Supreme Court asked all the state to have their own Web Portals so that people especially those who are in abroad can file RTI applications online. After the report RTI have to give information within 30 days to public. RTI can be rejected on 3 grounds if Organization is not a Public Authority or Private Corporate or Institution not substantially financed or controlled by the Government.