Right to Information Act, 2005
Right to Information Act, 2005
Right to Information (RTI) is an act of the Parliament of India which sets out the rules and procedures regarding citizens’ right to information. It replaced the former Freedom of Information Act, 2002.Under the provisions of RTI Act, any citizen of India 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.
RTI is a fundamental right for every citizen of India. The authorities under RTI Act 2005 are called quasi-judicial authorities. This act was enacted in order to consolidate the fundamental right in the Indian constitution ‘freedom of speech’. Since RTI is implicit in the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, it is an implied fundamental right.
RTI Proactive Disclosure Manual V.P Gaondongrem
Under the Right to Information (RTI) Act in India, proactive disclosure is a crucial aspect that applies to all public authorities, including panchayats. Section 4 of the RTI Act mandates that public authorities, such as panchayats, proactively disclose information about their functions, decision-making processes, documents held, employee contacts, budgets, and other relevant details. This includes disclosing information about subsidy schemes, licenses, and permits. Panchayats are required to disseminate this information widely through various means like notice boards, newspapers, public announcements, and the internet to ensure transparency and accountability. Regular updates and audits are also necessary to ensure compliance with these guidelines, promoting open governance and reducing the need for individual RTI applications.