Right to Information (RTI)

Detailed Meaning

The Right to Information Act, 2005 gives citizens a statutory mechanism to obtain information held by public authorities, in furtherance of transparency and accountability in governance. An applicant files a request with the prescribed fee before the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the relevant public authority; under Section 7, the PIO must supply the information within 30 days of the request, or within 48 hours where the information concerns the life or liberty of a person. If the PIO fails to respond within the statutory period, or wrongly rejects the request, Section 19 provides a first appeal to a departmental First Appellate Authority, and a further second appeal to the State or Central Information Commission, which may direct disclosure and, under Section 20, impose a penalty on the PIO for unreasonable refusal or delay. Section 8 exempts certain categories of information from disclosure (e.g. information affecting the sovereignty and security of India, or held in a fiduciary relationship), but Section 8(2) permits disclosure of even exempt information where the larger public interest justifies it.