BUSINESS

LAW
ASSIGNMENT-1

324304DIV C

INTRODUCTION:-

Right to Information Act, 2005

(Act No. 22 of 2005)
[As Modified up to 1st February, 2011]
Right to Information Act also known as RTI is an act which has
been passed by Parliament of India in 2005 and came into force
on October 12, 2005 which mandates timely response to any
queries or government information asked by citizens of India.
The importance of RTI is that the act gives right to citizens
to securely access the information under control of public
authorities. As our democracy requires informed citizens and
hence act was basically formed to empower citizens and provide
transparency of information. RTI was also implemented to contain
corruption in the country and to hold officials of government and
government itself for the governance in the country
But there are certain limitations in RTI where some official
information which are confidential for countries interest are
allowed to keep secret and which cannot be accessed under RTI
Act, 2005.
The public authorities have appointed some of its
employees as public information officer and these officers are
responsible to provide information which has been seeked under
RTI Act, 2005.
At sub divisional level there is assistant public information
officer to whom a citizen can give his RTI application. But
assistant public information officer is not responsible for supply of
information. He just forwards the application to the concerned
authority.
Though the Act was basically formed for the benefit of the
people and the country there were many started misusing the Act

because of certain reasons. So there are many Pros and

Cons of RTI Act, 2005.

Right to Information Under the RTI

Act,2005:Now lets see what are the information a person can seek
under the RTI Act which are held by the public authorities. The
right includes,

Inspection of work.
Inspection of documents and records.
Taking notes
Taking certified samples of material held under public
authorities.
And many more

Filing of online RTI process:-

RTI application can be filled manually via a written application or

can be filled online at website www.rtionline.gov.in

PROS AND CONS OF RTI ACT, 2005:Every Act formed has certain ups and down or
some pros and cons

PROS:
Empowerment to Common Man:
The common man of the country has been empowered
by this initiative in which they have attained right to be
informed about the things that can affect their life
directly or indirectly and the responsible authorities
have to give the desired answer.
Simple Mode of Circulating and Spreading
Information Rightfully:
The RTI Act has incorporated very simple mode of
spreading and circulating information of all sorts in all
form where the desired information will be given to
only citizen concerned which results in easy
accessibility of information on one side and time
conservation on other side.
Protection of Information:
Here since only concerned person will be rightfully
informed and entertained this will lead to protection of
the desired information from being used by wrong
person thus protecting everybody.
Decrease in Corruption Gradually:
If a person is asking for information regarding anything
and the authorities responsible have to give the desired
answer in competent and rightful way then the chances

of corruption will certainly decrease. Citizen will

have to concern about being cheated.

not

CONS:
Unnecessary Confusion all over:
In this country with over a billion of population
there are many who create unnecessary
disturbance and chaos over any new plan formed
plan just to be covered by media. Sometimes many
misuse the Act by asking undesired information.
Extra Burden on Authorities:
As authorities are already loaded with tasks on
their end which have to be delivered efficiently and
on time the implementation of this act has created
extra burden over the officials.
Many Public Information Officers:
Government has setup many PIOs resulting in
confusion to citizens to whom they should
approach and for this they to go here and there for
the concerned authority which consumes a lot of
time.
Citizens Accessibility is Time Consuming and
Hectic:
There are many offices where access of common
citizen to PIO is prolonged and very hectic thus
consuming a hell lot of time and hence the whole
process becomes complicated.

SUCCESS STORIES:
1)

Person Concerned: Kameshwar Yadav

Activist in Field: Right to work
Place of Work: Girikand, Jharkhand
Work he did:
With the help of RTI Act he extracted
information
regarding the contract
irrigation project were many government officials and
contractors showed the payment made to workers on
paper whereas the payment was not made. He was
successful in his work and workers got payment.

2)

Person Concerned: Lalit Kumar Mehta

Member of: Vikas Sahyog Kendra
Activist in Field: Right to Work and Right to Food.
Place of Work: Jharkhand
Work he did:

With the help of RTI he was able

to do indepth social audit of NREGA Act of central
government being done in the Jharkhand state. He was
able to expose some corrupt activities of government
officials and contractors. He later was murdered.