Right to Information (RTI)
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Right to Information Act was passed on 15th June, 2005 and came into force on 12th October, 2005. It has the widest reach covering Central and state government, Panchayati Raj institutions, Local bodies, Government funded NGOs and even the Judiciary.
On these lines, state information commissions have been set up at the Central and State level. RTI sets a 30 days deadline for providing information.
However, the deadline is 48 hours, if information concerns life and liberty of a person. This Act will empower citizens and is expected to usher in a new era of governance in the corruption ridden Indian Polity.
★However, everything is not rosy about RTI. According to a survey, few people would dispute that the RTI Act is one of the most people friendly legislation as road to accessing information remains difficult. Where a large number of rural information seekers reported harassment, even Public Information Officers admitted that they didn't know the Act's provisions.
★Moreover, it is a matter of great concern that in June, 2011 government excluded Central Bureau of Investigation from the purview of the RTI Act. The CBI is already a much malign agency and has been accused many a times of working under political influence. This questions government's determination to wage war against corruption and doesn't bode well for the future of democracy Although the government seems to have made their intentions clear to further amend the RTI Act, the agitation led by social activists might deter the government from diluting the Act.
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