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Right to Information Act comes into force in India

2005-10-12 The path breaking Right to Information Act (RTI), giving legal rights to people to seek information from the government and curb corruption, came into force in the country today, placing India among the 55 countries to have such a legislation.

The Act, passed by Parliament in the last Budget Session and given Presidential assent on June 15, is aimed at bring about transparency and accountability in the working of public authorities.

The new law, which will not be applicable in Jammu and Kashmir, is meant to curb corruption and inefficiency in the government at various levels as it brings within its ambit Central and State administrations, panchayats, local bodies and non-governmental organizations getting public funds.

Under the Act, the authorities are required to respond to queries in as little as 48 hours, if it is a matter of life and liberty.

The law promises prompt accountability and transparency to climb up several notches, especially as it provides for hefty fines and disciplinary action against erring officials.

According to the Act, the Centre has to appoint a Central Information Commission which will consist of a Chief Information Commissioner and Central Information Commissioners, not exceeding ten, as may be deemed necessary.

The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners will be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee - comprising the Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.

The general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the Central Information Commission shall vest with the Chief Information Commissioner, who shall be assisted by the Information Commissioners, and may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things which may be exercised or done by the Central Information Commission autonomously without being subjected to directions by any other authority under this Act.

The name of senior retired IAS officer from Jammu and Kashmir, Wajahat Habibullah, is understood to have been cleared but a formal appointment was yet to be made.

When contacted, Habibullah said he had not received any orders as yet.

Similarly, the state governments will also appoint State Information Officers.

The Act has a provision of penalty to ensure that the government officials and all public authorities provide high priority to requests for information from citizens.

Deterrent penalties have been prescribed for failure to provide information in time or for refusing to accept application for information or for giving incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroying information and the like.