Concept of "Right to Information"

Information is essential to resolve many issues, decision making, and increasing knowledge in different areas. It has indispensible function in the growth of societies in any nation.In Indian democratic social structure, freedom of information is the requirement of overall development due to its influential power. Free flow of information and its utilization improves the condition of nation, and public life is made comfortable. In any nation, if people have liberty to pass information and there is security of human rights, then their many complex problems can be solved. It totally depends on freedom of expression and information.To fully understand the concept of right to information, many countries have enacted the law for this to give liberty to its public.The thought of the right to information is related to freedom of information. Freedom of information denotes rational freedom. Both intellectual freedom and the right to information are human rights which guard life of people and enhance human development. Conversely, human rights must be protected by a democratic system in countries.

To maintain democratic state, members of the society must participate in the decision-making process and they need the right to information. The Right to Information Act (RTI) open ups a new prospect in Asian countries for the free of information.The Indian Parliament passed the Right to Information Act, 2005 and provides power to Indian citizens to obtain any type of information from the Government as their right. This regulation is very broad and includes all areas of governance.Right to information act enable the citizens know about government functions at Union, State and Local level in addition to recipients of government funding.

The Right to Information Act is mainly intended to empower the Indian citizens, make government functionaries answerable, control corruption, and build a strong democratic nation.People can use this act to control misleading of government activities. Under Right to Information Act, citizens have the power to ask for such information from any public authority. Public has power to inspect work, documents and records; taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records; and take certified samples of material held by the public authority or held under the control of the public authority. The Public Information Officer is not allowed to alter any information and is bound by this act to provide answer to the applicants’ quires.
The Right to Information Act is very powerful tool for the growth of the nation
 

By: Harman Sandhu