Right to Information Act of 2005 enacted by two houses
of Parliament has become operative from 12th October, 2005.Now this law has
become applicable to whole of India.
This enactment gives a very important right to
citizens. It is common knowledge to everybody that in most of the Government
Departments and Municipal Corporations there is high degree of corruption. If
the palms of the officers and the staff concerned are not normally greased
nothing moves. Normally, only when the people grease the palms of the officers
their things are done. This Act gives power to the honest citizen or honest
developer to get his things done if there is gross delay.
Let us first understand certain important aspects of
this legislation. Section 2(j) of the Act defines right to information. The
same reads as under:-
“Right to information” means the right to information
accessible under this Act which is held by or under the control of any public
authority and includes the right to-
1) Inspection of work,documents,records;
2) Taking notes, extracts or certified copies of
documents of records;
3) Taking certified samples of material;
4) Obtaining information in the form of diskettes,
floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through
printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other
device.
Now this right to get information is not restricted only to Government and Municipal
Corporations.
Let us see some practical uses
The plans are submitted to the BMT for sanction. There
is delay as the palms of the concerned officers are not greased. It is now
possible for a citizen to ask the question and collect information like-
How many other plans were submitted on the day for
sanction by the people?
What has happened to the said plans?
Out of them how many plans are passed?
What is the status of his plan?
It is also possible to ask for inspection of document,
records, taking notes and obtain certified copies thereof.
Under the Act all the administrative offices of public
authorities have to appoint Public Information Officer (PIO). We can apply for
information to PIO of the concerned office. The information is to be provided
within thirty day. There are certain charges liveable which are more or less
considered as token amount. If the information is not provided or wrongfully
refused, we can go in appeal to appellate authority who is an official in the
same department, senior to the PIO of the
Department.
Against the decision of the Appellate Authority we can
appeal to the State or Central Information Commissioner which is an independent
constitutional authority.
The most important thing is that the Act imposes
penalty on PIO at the rate of Rs 250/- per day for the dealy or for malicions
denial of information. This particular provision helps the citizen to get
information in time.
All the offices shall have display boards giving the
name of the PIO and such other relevant information. In case you are not able
to get at the PIO concerned you can address an application to PIO at the Head
Office. Even if you send application by
mistake to the wrong PIO he is supposed to forward the same to the concerned
PIO. Certain information is available at the website.
Information which affect the sovereignty and integrity
of India or security, strategic, scientific and economic interest of the state
relation with foreign state and certain information as mentioned in Sections 8
& 9 of the Act may be denied.
If more and more people seek information under this Act
there will be reduction in corrupt practices leading to efficiency and transparency in public offices.
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