Why Right to Information?

Government runs on the money paid by people as taxes. People have a right to know how their money is being used. Right to Information allows people to do that.

In a democracy, people are the masters. Government exists to serve them. People have a right to know how they are being governed.

The Supreme Court has observed that Right to Information is a part of Right to Speech & Expression, which is a fundamental right under Article 19(1) of the Constitution. According to the Supreme Court, Right to Speech & Expression cannot be exercised without Right to Information.

Ours is a representative democracy. We elect our representatives who then rule us in our name. We should have a right to question them on what decisions they take on our behalf and why such decisions are being taken.

Right to Information in India

A silent revolution in the form of Right To Information (RTI) campaign is sweeping across the country.

Right to Information Act became effective from 13.10.05 and is applicable to the whole of India except Jammu & Kashmir. The law grants a right to the citizens to question their governments, inspect government records, take copies thereof and participate in day-to-day governance. Nothing is secret anymore.

Before the Central law was enacted, Right to Information laws were passed by nine state Governments in the country viz Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Assam and Jammu & Kashmir. After the enactment of the Central RTI Act, these state laws have become redundant now.