Right to Information Act:

In a democratic country like India, one of the most important essence of democracy  is transparency and being answerable and information is important to function for a healthy democracy.

The citizens also feel involved and part of the system when they have access to information. The citizens remain satisfied when  they feel they are being informed about the decisions being made for them. Being  a part of the process also helps in improving the process. As much the state is  transparent towards its citizens, that much efficiency and effectiveness will be  there.

Yacine Ait Kaci argued that “ Everyone has the right to freedom of  opinions and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without  interference and to seek, receive and impart Information and ideas through any  media and regardless of frontiers.”

The demand for RTI started from Rajasthan in 1990. majdoor kisan shakti sangathan (MKSS) started the mass  movement in order to end corruption. A committee under Hari Dev Shourie was  formed which submitted the ‘freedom of information bill’ report in 1997 but no  action was taken on that report.

In 2002 the bill was passed in the Parliament and  got notified by the President in January 2003 and got notified as act no 5 2003.

The National advisory council in 2004 submitted a report for enactment of Right  to Information Act. The Act got passed in Lok Sabha on May 11, 2005 and on May  12, 2005 in Rajya Sabha and on June 12, 2005, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam approved  this act.

It has been amended in 2005. Various new provisions have been added in this act.