Team Name: MGM (SJMSOM)

Md Jasim Uddin
Vishnu V. Prasad
Date: 04.11.15

Right To Information Act (2005)

Slow judiciary system, poorly equipped schools, counterfeit medicine and elections decided by money
are just some of the consequences of public sector corruption. Bribes and backroom deals dont just
steal resources from the most vulnerable they undermine justice and economic development, and
destroy public trust in government and leaders.
On this premise where Transparency International ranks us as 85 th country in terms of corruption and
World Bank ranks us as 130 among 189 countries in terms of ease of doing business, we must admit
that corruption and lack of accountability are slowing our growth and development. Proper and strict
implementation of Right to Information Act can change the scenario significantly.
1. India is a vast country with 1.25 billion people. Providing a proper system of education, Health,
Judiciary is a big challenge. The documentation part and the accountability part should be more in this
social systems. RTI act can improve the situation here.
2. RTI plays a key role to curb down the corruption in higher education system.
3. As we are heading to digital India, where keeping and maintaining data base will be easier, this
online RTI, which costs a minimal INR 10 will check the transparency and it will act as a deterrent of
corruption.
4. On the premise of Make in India campaign RTI is a very powerful tool to maintain transparency.
5. Our judiciary system is very slow and also there is visible lack of accountability in Law and order
system, in this parlance, Right to Information Act helps us to maintain our basic fundamental rights.
We all know that Information is Knowledge and knowledge is Power and we also believe that
Media is the 4th pillar of democracy. Media enables us to have information, but some information
cant be gathered by normal media. For that we need a tool like Right to Information Act (2005). We
need to create more awareness about RTI to use it judiciously. Someone just cant ask about the
launch code of nuclear missiles by filing RTI. Our focus should be on the right use of this powerful
tool to make a better India.

Basic Facts About Right To Information Act (2005)

It is an act to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure
access to information under the control of public authorities, in order to promote transparency and
accountability in the working of every public authority, the constitution of a Central Information
Commission and State Information Commissions and for matters connected therewith or incidental
thereto. It cover all constitutional authorities, including the executive, legislature and judiciary; any
institution or body established or constituted by an act of Parliament or a state legislature. It is also
defined in the Act that bodies or authorities established or constituted by order or notification of
appropriate government including bodies "owned, controlled or substantially financed" by
government, or non-Government organizations "substantially financed, directly or indirectly by
funds" provided by the government are also covered in the Act.

Process: Each authority covered by the RTI Act must appoint their Public Information Officer (PIO).
Any person may submit a written request to the PIO for information. It is the PIO's obligation to
provide information to citizens of India who request information under the Act. If the request pertains

to another public authority (in whole or part), it is the PIO's responsibility to transfer/forward the
concerned portions of the request to a PIO of the other authority within 5 working days. In addition,
every public authority is required to designate Assistant Public Information Officers (APIOs) to
receive RTI requests and appeals for forwarding to the PIOs of their public authority. The applicant is
required to disclose his name and contact particulars but not any other reasons or justification for
seeking information.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) acts upon complaints from those individuals who have
not been able to submit information requests to a Central Public Information Officer or State Public
Information Officer due to either the officer not having been appointed, or because the respective
Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public Information Officer refused to
receive the application for information

Exclusions:
Central Intelligence and Security agencies specified in the Second Schedule like IB, Directorate
General of Income tax(Investigation), RAW, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Directorate of
Revenue Intelligence, Central Economic Intelligence Bureau, Directorate of Enforcement, Narcotics
Control Bureau, Aviation Research Centre, Special Frontier Force, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF, NSG,
Assam Rifles, Special Service Bureau, Special Branch (CID), Andaman and Nicobar.The information
regarding foreign confidential, trade secrets, Intellectual property etc. or the kind of disclosure which
would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India is excluded from this act.

Conclusion:
The right of the citizens for information is one of the foremost essentialities in ensuring transparency
and accountability in government systems. Only when the government is transparent there would be
less chance for corruption in the system. To be specific, RTI makes democracy more vibrant and
meaningful and allows citizens to participate in the governance process of the country.