The document discusses the Right to Information Act (RTI) of India. It provides background on the history of freedom of information laws internationally and in India. It describes key aspects of the RTI Act, including what information can be requested, costs and timelines associated with requests, roles of Public Information Officers, and appeal processes. Examples of successful uses of RTI are also mentioned.
9. Right to Information Act (2005) Better Governance Citizen’s Empowerment – Greater Accountability Rakesh Reddy
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11. Background U.S. enacted a FOI Law as early as 1966. Canada (1983), France, UK (2000), Scandinavia, Australia, South Africa (2002) and New Zealand have similar laws. Rakesh Reddy USA (1966) Canada (1983) AUS - NZ Scandinavia UK (2000) South Africa (2002)
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13. The real Swaraj will come not by the acquisition of authority by a few but by the acquisition of capacity by all to resist authority when abused --Mahatma Gandhi ‘ Democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of information which are vital to its functioning and also to contain corruption and to hold Governments and their instrumentalities accountable to the governed’ -- Right to Information Act 2005 Rakesh Reddy
16. What does RTI Act (2005) really mean? Information that cannot be denied to Parliament or Legislatures cannot be denied to a citizen. = Rakesh Reddy
17. What does RTI Act (2005) really mean? (contd.) ‘ Information’ defined in a Comprehensive and Practical manner - covering various paper and electronic formats What does ‘Information’ include? Rakesh Reddy Emails Electronic Data Computer-generated Info Records & Documents Memos & Circulars Opinions & Advice Press Releases & Reports Physical Samples Log books
18. What does RTI Act (2005) really mean? (contd.) Right to obtain any information held by govt. departments, offices and public authorities. Right to inspect documents, records, works, excerpts, certified information ‘ Right to Information’ too defined in a Comprehensive and Practical manner Rakesh Reddy
29. RTI - Costs The head of account for remittance of fee as per GOMs.No. 530 GAD dated 29 th November 2005: 0070-Other Administrative Services-60-Other Services-MH 800 Other Receipts- SH (25) Receipts under Right to Information Act 2005-001 Receipts under Right to Information Act 2005 Rakesh Reddy
41. Cartoon courtesy Liberal Times (Vol. VII, No. 1, 1999) Effective Implementation of RTI Act to take us from… to… Rakesh Reddy
42. “ I believe that the passage of this Bill will see the dawn of a new era in our processes of governance, an era of performance and efficiency, an ear which will ensure that benefits of growth flow to all sections of our people, an era which will eliminate the scourge of corruption, an era which will bring the Common man’s concern to the heart of all processes of governance, an era which willtruly fulfill the hopes of the founding fathers of our Republic.” --Dr. Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India Speech in Parliament on May 11, 2005. Rakesh Reddy
43. Useful Links www.r2inet.org www.sakshitrust.org www.apic.gov.in You can always write to [email_address] [email_address] Rakesh Reddy
