Right to Information is a Fundamental Right and guaranteed as per Article 19and 21 of the Constitution of India. Under the provisions of this Act, any citizen (excluding the citizens within the state of Jammu and Kashmir) may request information from a “public authority” (a body of Government or “instrumentality of State”) which is required to reply expeditiously or within thirty days. The Act also requires every public authority to computerize their records for wide dissemination and to proactively publish certain categories of information so that the citizens need minimum recourse to request for information formally. The Act provides the Central and State governments the power to set up Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions respectively that are required to inquire into any complaint filed by a citizen against a public authority for full or partial denial of information. The Act is applicable to every department and ministry of the Indian Central and State governments, except the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
India · 2005-06-15