This presentation is explaining the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 in a very concise & clear manner.

1. By Chirag Jain
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Enacted by - Parliament of India
Enacted on – 15 June 2005
Assented on – 22 June 2005
Commenced – 12 Oct 2005
Territorial extent – Applicable to Whole of India

3.  UDHR adopted in 1948 providing everyone right to seek, receive, information and ideas through
any media and regardless of frontiers.
 ICCPR adopted in 1966 states that everyone shall have right to freedom of expression, freedom
to seek and impart information and ideas of all kinds.
 Kulwal vs Jaipur Municipal Corporation case 1986 - freedom of speech and expression provided
under Article 19 of Constitution clearly implies Right to Information as without information,
freedom of speech and expression cannot be fully used by the citizens.
 Tamil Nadu became 1st Indian state to pass RTI law in 1997
 Freedom of Information Act passed in 2002 but could not be implemented

4.  To empower citizens
 To promote transparency and accountability
 To contain corruption
 To enhance people’s participation in democratic process
 To make administration responsive & government more accountable

5.  Right to Information means right to information accessible under this Act which is held by
or under control of any public authority and includes right to –
 Inspection of work, documents, records
 Taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records
 Taking certified samples of material

6.  Public Authority - any authority or body or institution of self-government established or
constituted –
 by or under the Constitution
 by law made by Parliament/SL
 by any govt notification
 body owned, controlled or substantially financed by govt
 NGO substantially financed directly or indirectly by govt

7.  Sec 4 - suo-motu disclosure of information by each public authority
 Provides for appointment of Information Commissioners at Central and State level
 Public authorities have designated some of its officers as Public Information Officer -
responsible to give information to a person who seeks information under RTI Act
 information to an applicant is to be supplied within 30 days from receipt of application by
public authority
 If information sought concerns life or liberty of a person, it shall be supplied within 48 hours

8.  if larger public interest is served or in protection of Sovereignty & Integrity of India
 Trade secrets or Intellectual property
 Indian Evidence Act
 Atomic Energy Act 1912
 Central Civil Services Act
 Official Secrets Act 1923
 Exempted organisations – IB, RAW, DRI, NCB, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, AR, NSG, FIU, DRDO

9.  mandated officials to change their attitude & duty from one of secrecy to sharing and
openness
 empowered Information Commission to order any office in country to provide information
under act
 key to strengthening participatory democracy and ushering in people centred governance
 Access to information can empower poor and weaker sections of society
 arming citizens with a tool to know what govt does and how it does - making govt more
accountable
 removed unnecessary secrecy

10.  Diff types of information is sought which has no public interest & aim to misuse law &
harass public authorities
 attain publicity by filing RTI
 Nothing for illiterate & unawared majority of pop
 Exclude political parties under the ambit of act

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12. THANK YOU