Study of E-Governance in Flourishing Right to Information Act in India

1. Academic Associates – IIM AhmedabadAcademic Associates – IIM Ahmedabad
KALPESHKUMAR GUPTAKALPESHKUMAR GUPTA
BAIJUL PARIKHBAIJUL PARIKH
January 3-4, 2015January 3-4, 2015
XVI Annual International
Conference, New Delhi
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2. Outline of the presentation :-
1.Introduction
2.E-Governance
3.Right to Information Act,
2005
4.Recent Scenario – E-Gov.
& RTI Act, 2005
5. Concluding Remarks
6. Q & A
Outline
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3. 3

4. Introduction :-
- Good governance is a key stroke for the success
of any country.
- RTI plays a crucial role in good governance in
the country.
- E-governance ensures seamless flow of
information to citizen.
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Governance is "the process of decision-making and the
process by which decisions are implemented (or not
implemented)".
(UN Economic & Social Commission for Asia &
the Pacific, UNESCAP, 2009)
….”good governance” is an extremely elusive objective. It
means different things to different organizations
(http://unu.edu/)

5. “E-Governance is the only way to move
from good governance to proactive pro-
people good governance”
-Shri Narendra Modi,
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
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6. 6

7. E-Governance:-
E-governance is the application of information
and communication technology (ICT) for
delivering government services, exchange of
information communication transactions,
integration of various stand-alone systems and
services between
government-to-customer (G2C),
government-to-business (G2B),
government-to-government (G2G) as well
as back office processes
and interactions within the entire government
framework (Saugata, B., and Masud, R.R. (2007)
Cont.
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8. E-Governance:-
E-Government is dealing with a narrower area
consisting of developing an online platform to
provide services to citizens like - e-tax, e-health,
e-transportation etc.
…..While e-Governance consists of a broader
spectrum that deals with the networks and
cardinalities within the Government with respect
to the usage and application of ICTs.
Cont.
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9. 9

10. Right to Information Act, 2005 :-
- RTI Act passed in year 2005
- Main objective of RTI Act is to bring transparency and
accountability in working of public authorities.
- Section (4)(1)(b) refers to Suo-moto disclosure.
Section 4 (2)..………..It shall be a constant endeavor of
every public authority to take steps in accordance with
the requirements of clause (b) of sub-section (1)
to provide as much information suo-moto to the public
at regular through various means of communications,
including internet, so that the public have minimum
resort to the use of this Act to obtain information.
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11. Right to Information Act, 2005 :-
Section 4(1)(b)…..
1.the particulars of its organization, functions and
duties;
2.the powers and duties of its officers and employees;
3.the procedure followed in the decision making process,
including channels of supervision and accountability;
4.the norms set by it for the discharge of its functions;
5.the rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and
records, held by it or under its control or used by its
employees for discharging its functions;
6.a statement of the categories of documents that are
held by it or under its control;
7.the names, designation and other particulars of the
Public Information Officers;…….17 categories
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12. 12

13. Recent Scenario E-Gov. & RTI Act,2005 :-
At Central Level
-Online RTI Application centre (www.rtionline.gov.in)
-Central Information Commission Online
(http://rti.india.gov.in/)
At State Level
-Jankari (Helpline) in Bihar
-Online filing of RTI (Maharashtra)
-Video Conferencing for Hearing of cases (State
Information Commissions, Punjab, Haryana, Tamil
Nadu, Chhatisgarh, Maharashtra)
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14. Online RTI filing once new CM settles down* :-
- Initially Four departments will have facility for online
filing of RTI application in Maharashtra
- These departments will have a dedicated website for
filing online RTI applications. Besides filing, one will
also be able to get replies through the online route.
*Source :- http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report-online-rti-filing-once-new-cm-settles-
down-2031836, November 4, 2014
Maharashtra
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15. Use of Information Technology for better
implementation of RTI Act:
Supreme Court asks States and Union Territories to
decide in Three weeks
- Rajeev Agrawal, Advocate filed PIL in SC.
- The petition demanded a direction to the States and
Union Territories to take urgent steps to ensure filing
of RTI applications, appeals and complaints through
electronic mode including through Websites and
through Call Centres as voice facilitation Centres for
filing RTI applications, appeals and complaints
*Source :- http://www.livelaw.in/use-information-technology-better-implementation-rti-
act-supreme-court-asks-states-union-territories-decide-three-weeks/ , November 6, 2014
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16. Maharashtra govt to allow online RTI queries from
New Year* :-
It has been decided to roll out RTI online in the state
secretariat from January 1, 2015 and across the state in
all government offices by April 1.
*Source :- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maharashtra-govt-to-allow-online-RTI-
queries-from-New-Year/articleshow/45627954.cms , December 24, 2014
Fadnavis said bringing in accountability in the
system remains the top focus of his government.
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17. 17
Maharashtra: RTI online
on trial basis from
today, DNA, January 1, 2015
37 Department
Covered

18. 18

19. 19

20. - E-Governance plays crucial role in flourishing RTI.
Timely cost effecting medium to disseminating
information.
- Suo-moto disclosure u/s 4(1)(b) of RTI Act, 2005 by
using cost effective medium i.e. Internet
- Few Public Authorities implemented online filing of
RTI
- Rare cases of video conferencing facility in the Office
of Information Commissioner
Conclusion :-
Cont..
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21. 1. All public authorities make full disclosure as per
Section 4(1)(b) of RTI Act,2005.
2. Promote online RTI application/appeals in the state.
Public authorities also can make individual effort for
this.
3. Dedicated web portal in the state covering all public
authorities in that so that one can file an
application/appeal at one point itself.
4. Enable video conferencing facility for hearing appeals
and complaints in the office of State Information
Commissions.
Recommendations :-
Cont..
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22. Figure 1: Online RTI Application Flow
Cont..
Cont..
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23. Figure 1: Online RTI Application Flow
Cont..
Cont..
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24. Figure 1: Online RTI Application Flow
Cont..
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25. References :-
Frank Bannister (2012), “Defining e-Governance”, e-Service Journal, Winter 2012, Vol. 8, Issue 2,
p 3-25
Gupta Piyush & R K Bagga (2008), “Compendium of e-Governance Initiatives in India”, University
Press India Pvt. Ltd.
Shukla Ashutosh (2014), “RTI plea can be filed online from August end”, DNA, August 14, 2014
retrieved from http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-rti-plea-can-be-filed-online-from-august-
end-2010617 on August 15, 21014
Saugata, B., and Masud, R.R. (2007), ”Implementing E-Governance Using OECD Model(Modified)
and Gartner Model (Modified) Upon Agriculture of Bangladesh. IEEE. 1-4244-1551-9/07.
Web Reference:-
http://rtionline.gov.in/ accessed on May 5, 2014
http://cic.gov.in/ accessed on May 5, 2014
http://rti.india.gov.in/ accessed on May 5, 2014
http://hphamirpur.nic.in/RTI/e-Soochana.pdf accessed on May 5, 2014
http://www.biharonline.gov.in/RTI/(S(luvp4m45jaabex45jlvvxs45))/index.aspx?
ln=en&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 accessed on May 10, 2014
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26. KALPESHKUMAR GUPTAKALPESHKUMAR GUPTA
BAIJUL PARIKHBAIJUL PARIKH
advocatekgupta@gmail.comadvocatekgupta@gmail.com
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