The evolution of the Right to Information (RTI) Act started in 1986 following a judgment by the Supreme Court. The law was brought to effect to offer Indian citizens the ability to exercise their rights to question the Government and various public utility service providers in an effective manner. The RTI Act replaced the Freedom of Information Act in 2002, aiming at quicker services from government agencies, enabling citizens to ask why specific proceedings or applications are delayed.
The primary objective of the act is to facilitate a corruption-free India, ensuring transparency, accountability and promoting informed citizen participation in democracy. The act was amended in 2019 to update the tenure and service terms of Chief Information Commissioners (CIC) and Information Commissioners (ICs) at both state and central levels.
The Role of Central Information Commission (CIC)
Established under the provisions of the Right to Information Act in 2005, the CIC is responsible for receiving and inquiring into complaints regarding information requested under the RTI Act. The commission consists of a Chief Information Commissioner and not more than ten Information Commissioners who are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee.
The Role of State Information Commission (SIC)
Similar to the CIC, each state has its own State Information Commission. This body is constituted by the State Government and includes a State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) and up to ten State Information Commissioners (SIC).
Information Accessibility Under RTI Act
Any Indian citizen can request information from Government authorities through the RTI Act. This includes requests related to delayed IT refund, driving licenses, passport application status, details on ongoing or completed infrastructure projects, etc. It also empowers students to obtain answer sheet copies from universities.
Challenges in Implementing RTI Act
Despite its significance, the RTI Act faces several challenges. These include misuse of the law to harass public authorities, lack of digital integration at sub-district and block levels hindering e-governance mechanism, the illiteracy and poverty of the majority limiting the exercise of RTI, and so on.
Performance of Information Commissions in India
Recently, the Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS), an NGO dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability, released a Report Card on the Performance of Information Commissions in India for 2022-23. The report highlighted that Maharashtra ranked lowest in RTI responsiveness, with over 1.15 lakh pending appeals. Other poorly performing states included Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. As of 2023, over 3.21 lakh appeals and complaints are pending across the country’s 27 State Information Commissions.
Improving RTI Act Implementation
To enhance the effectiveness of the RTI Act, it is crucial to address the underlying issues affecting its implementation. This includes digitizing records to improve remote access, ensuring timely and transparent filling of vacancies across Central and State Information Commissions, and massive awareness generation at local levels regarding the RTI Act. With improved governance and accountability, the RTI Act can serve the information needs of society more effectively.