RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT

Barely five years old, the Right to Information Act has revolutionised the concept of governance in India by making it more transparent and accountable. The novel experimentation in its implementation in some of Indian states, f replicated elsewhere, can surely go a long way to remove many prevalent social maladies from Indian society.

            Twentieth Century is generally known for the explosion in the field of Information and Technology and in this age of unprecedented development, information is the most potent tool of empowerment of an individual as well as that of a nation. “Without information, people cannot adequately express their right as citizens or make informed choices.” Seeking information of all sorts and at every cost is, therefore, being viewed as an essential right by the people throughout the world. A slow but steady awareness about such a right and continuous efforts by dedicated individuals and organizations ultimately resulted in the enactment of different Freedom of Information Laws from time to time in various countries like the United States of America (1966), France (1978), New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Ireland (1982), Netherlands (1991) and India (2005). Today, nearly 90 countries have already adopted some law granting its people the right to seek information related to various government and public offices and their working. It is a matter of great pride that nine out of the top ten countries of the world today have such laws which ensure transparency, accountability and good governance. In our own country also, a new dawn of hope has set in whereby faceless citizen is blessed with a formidable tool of empowerment in the name of Right To Information Act (RTIA).