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What is RTI?

What is RTI?

16-Dec-2023

R.T.I

Answer By law4u team

In the context of India, RTI refers to the Right to Information. The Right to Information Act, 2005 is a legislation enacted by the Parliament of India that gives citizens of India the right to request and obtain information from public authorities. The Act is designed to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of government agencies. Key features of the Right to Information Act (RTI Act) include: Application Process: Any citizen of India can file a request for information from a public authority by submitting an application. The request can be made in writing or through electronic means. Scope of Information: The Act covers information held by government bodies, public authorities, and agencies at the central, state, and local levels. It includes information related to government decisions, policies, and actions. Timeframe for Response: The public authority is required to respond to the request within 30 days. In certain cases, this period may be extended by another 30 days. Exemptions: While the Act promotes transparency, there are certain exemptions to the disclosure of information. For example, information that could compromise national security or harm the confidentiality of sensitive investigations may be exempt. Appellate Authorities: If a citizen is not satisfied with the response or if their request is denied, they have the right to appeal. The Act establishes appellate authorities at various levels to handle such appeals. The Right to Information Act has been an important tool for citizens to access information and hold public authorities accountable. It has been used to uncover instances of corruption, mismanagement, and other issues within government agencies.

Answer By Ayantika Mondal

Dear Client, RTI stands for the Right to Information, it was introduced via the Right to Information Act of 2005, passed by the Indian Parliament. This act uplifts Fundamental Rights under Article 19(1) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression. The Supreme Court has time and again supported Right to Information, and citizens must have access to information about how the government and public authorities are functioning and working. The RTI Act educates common citizens to ask government bodies for information related to governance. It’s an important tool that helps people question the government’s actions and hold public authorities accountable for their work. It helps to control corruption and inefficiency, ensuring better delivery of government works. After RTI Act came into effect, it is promoting the transparency and accountability in government services. It is also helping citizens stay informed and promoting the trust on government. The Act is applicable to all government bodies and agencies at both the state and union levels, including those funded by the government. These bodies are required to reply to requests for information, and if they fail to do so within the set time frame, they have to face penalties. Vital Sections of the RTI Act, 2005: • Section 2(h): About public authorities and government bodies. • Section 4(1)(b) Ask the government to maintain records of information. • Section 6: Defines the procedure for asking information. • Section 7: Gives the time frame within which information must be given. • Section 8: Talks about exemptions to certain types of information. • Section 20: About the penalties for non-cooperation. To conclude, the RTI Act’s main goal is to empower citizens and ensure that the government remains accountable for its actions. It encourages transparency and promotes trust in the system. I hope this answer helps.

Answer By Anik

Dear Client, RTI stands for Right to Information, and it came after The Right to Information Act, 2005 was passed and enacted by the Parliament of India. And it is a fundamental right under Article 19((1) of the Indian Constitution. The Supreme Court at many always held that in a democracy people of the nation or the citizens should have the right to know about the working of the government and public authority. Hence, the Government enacted the Right to Information Act in 2005 which is a fundamental right as well. As the name of the Act clearly suggest it is talking about a right related to the information, and it is one of the most vital Act which empowers common citizens to question the government and how the government is governing for their interest. And it is tool by which citizens and media can easily uncover and detect corruption or poor delivery of governance by any government body or public servant or government department or the working style of the government authority. With the help of RTI now any common citizen can ask the government authority to answer the questions and any citizen can ask for the detailed information or data regarding any government duty and responsibility or any work of the government. Now after the introduction of RTI there is some sort of transparency and it is promoting openness and accountability in delivery of governance, and it is helping is fighting the corruption and also it a medium which is uplifting the basic fundamental right of the citizen and this is also helping the people to keep trust in the government activities. It is important to note that all the government body, authority, agencies, organisations, or even any body which is financed or run by the support of Government, be it state government or central government are under the purview of this RTI Act. And it is mandatory for these government bodies to response with facts, data, and appropriate valid answers asked by the citizen. And in case they fail to answer on time then there will be penalties for them. Important Sections of the RTI Act, 2005 are as follows: • Section 2(h) talks about, who are public authority, and Government body. • Section 4 1(b) Government has to maintain information. • Section 6 Procedure for securing information. • Section 7 Time frame for proving information. • Section 8 Exemptions against any information, • Section 20 Provides Penalties. To conclude, the main objective of RTI is to empower common citizens and keep government accountable for their work, and also it promotes transparency. I hope this answer helps.