Right to Information
UNIT-21
Structure 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 21.7 21.8 21.9
TRANSPARENCY AND RIGHT TO INFORMATION
Learning Outcome Introduction Transparency and Right to Information Right to Information: An International Perspective Right to Information: The Indian Scenario Right to Information Act 2005: Main Features Implementing Right to Information: Tasks Ahead Conclusion Key Concepts References and Further Reading
21.10 Activities
21.0 LEARNING OUTCOME
After reading this Unit, you should be able to: • • • • • Explain the relationship between transparency and right to information Examine the right to information in an international perspective Appreciate the efforts made in India towards right to information Bring out the main features of Right to Information Act 2005;and Discuss the tasks ahead in the operationalisation of right to information
21.1 INTRODUCTION
You are by now familiar with the concepts of governance and good governance, which we have discussed at length in this Course as well as in Course 011 of this Programme.
1
Ours is an age of deepening and expansion of democracy. The role of people in the governance process is now receiving universal attention, not simply as an occasional voter, but as an active participant in the regular and day-to-day governance especially at the local and decentralised level. It is in this train of thinking that ‘accountability’ as well as ‘transparency and information’ - two of the important aspects of ‘governance’ have been identified in the 1992 World Bank document on Governance and Development. The citizen 's right to information is increasingly being recognised as an important instrument to promote openness, transparency and accountability in public administration. The citizens, the stakeholders, the consumers of public services, the beneficiaries of development programmes, the civil society organisations, the business and commercial houses – all, it is being universally acknowledged, must get the
Structure 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 21.7 21.8 21.9
TRANSPARENCY AND RIGHT TO INFORMATION
Learning Outcome Introduction Transparency and Right to Information Right to Information: An International Perspective Right to Information: The Indian Scenario Right to Information Act 2005: Main Features Implementing Right to Information: Tasks Ahead Conclusion Key Concepts References and Further Reading
21.10 Activities
21.0 LEARNING OUTCOME
After reading this Unit, you should be able to: • • • • • Explain the relationship between transparency and right to information Examine the right to information in an international perspective Appreciate the efforts made in India towards right to information Bring out the main features of Right to Information Act 2005;and Discuss the tasks ahead in the operationalisation of right to information
21.1 INTRODUCTION
You are by now familiar with the concepts of governance and good governance, which we have discussed at length in this Course as well as in Course 011 of this Programme.
1
Ours is an age of deepening and expansion of democracy. The role of people in the governance process is now receiving universal attention, not simply as an occasional voter, but as an active participant in the regular and day-to-day governance especially at the local and decentralised level. It is in this train of thinking that ‘accountability’ as well as ‘transparency and information’ - two of the important aspects of ‘governance’ have been identified in the 1992 World Bank document on Governance and Development. The citizen 's right to information is increasingly being recognised as an important instrument to promote openness, transparency and accountability in public administration. The citizens, the stakeholders, the consumers of public services, the beneficiaries of development programmes, the civil society organisations, the business and commercial houses – all, it is being universally acknowledged, must get the
References: • • Specific exemptions to protect national security, personal privacy, law enforcement and the like; and Where access is refused, a right of appeal independent of government officials (Bell and Watchirs, 1988). 21. 9 REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING Bell, Robin and Helen Watchirs, 1988, “Freedom of Information: The Commonwealth Experience”, Australian Journal of Public Administration, Vol