IJSSER

Title: KNOWLEDGE, POWER, POLICY: TRACING THE RTI ACT'S ROLE IN CATALYZING INDIA'S POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION
Authors: Priyanshi Bhartia
\|\| \|\|
Priyanshi Bhartia Sanskriti -The Gurukul
MLA 8 Bhartia, Priyanshi. "KNOWLEDGE, POWER, POLICY: TRACING THE RTI ACT'S ROLE IN CATALYZING INDIA'S POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 4, no. 10, Oct. 2019, pp. 6391-6398, ijsser.org/more2019.php?id=491. Accessed Oct. 2019. APA Bhartia, P. (2019, October). KNOWLEDGE, POWER, POLICY: TRACING THE RTI ACT'S ROLE IN CATALYZING INDIA'S POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 4(10), 6391-6398. Retrieved from ijsser.org/more2019.php?id=491 Chicago Bhartia, Priyanshi. "KNOWLEDGE, POWER, POLICY: TRACING THE RTI ACT'S ROLE IN CATALYZING INDIA'S POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 4, no. 10 (October 2019), 6391-6398. Accessed October, 2019. ijsser.org/more2019.php?id=491.
References [1]. Banerjee, C. Centre's decision to bring amendments to RTI Act draws criticism from activists. The Hindu. 22nd July 2019 https://www.thehindu.com/news/states/centres-decision-tobring-amendments-to-rti-act-draws-criticism-from-activists/article28629973.ece [2]. Bhatnagar, G.V. Maharashtra, Gujarat Top in Attacks, Killing of RTI Users. The Wire. 19th October 2016 https://thewire.in/politics/74320 [3]. Central Information Commission. (2015). Trust Through Transparency. Accessed on 15th September 2019 https://cic.gov.in/sites/default/files/Trust_Through_Transparency.pdf [4]. EPW Engage. (2018). Selling the Fourth Estate: How Free is Indian Media. Economic and Political Weekly, Accessed on 14th September 2019 https://www.epw.in/engage/article/selling-fourth-estate-how-free-indian [5]. Gandhi, S. Right to information is misused, but those who do so make up less than 5% of total applicants. Scroll, 11th February 2017. https://scroll.in/article/827689/right-toinformation-is-misused-and-thats-all-the-more-reason-why-this-law-should-not-beweakened [6]. Mathur, K. (2008). From Government to Governance: A Brief Survey of the Indian Experience. National Book Trust, India, Accessed on 13th September 2019 [7]. Mazhar, S. (2010). Exclusion of Private Sector from Freedom of Information Laws: Implications from a Human Rights Perspective. Journal of Alternative Perspectives in the Social Sciences. Accessed on 14th September 2019 [8]. Nayak, N. D. Private institutions, NGOs now come under RTI Act: Information Commissioner. The Hindu, 13th December 2014 http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tpkarnataka/private-institutions-ngos-now-come-under-rti-act-informationcommissioner/article6688274.ece [9]. Prasad, R. Right to information (RTI Act 2005) India - One Nation #OneRTI. Ballot Box India, 27th March 2018 https://ballotboxindia.com/ap/right-to-information-rti-act-2005- india/51822549/ [10]. PRS India. (2011). The Whistle Blowers Protection Bill, 2011. Accessed on 14th September 2019 [11]. Sharma, N. 1.75 crore RTI applications filed since 2005: Study. Economic Times, 6th October, 2016 https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/1-75-crore-rtiapplications-filed-since-2005-study/articleshow/54705694.cms [12]. Sinha, R. (2019). Explainer: The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019. PRS Blog, Accessed on 15th September 2019 [13]. Staples, W.R. (2007). Encyclopedia of Privacy. Greenwood Publishing Group. Accessed on 15th September 2019 [14]. Subrahmaniam, V. First-ever amendment to historic RTI Act tabled in Lok Sabha. The Hindu, 12 August 2013 https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/firstever-amendment-to-historicrti-act-tabled-in-lok-sabha/article5015695.ece [15]. Roy, A. The Fate of RTI After One Year of Modi is a Bad Omen. The Wire. 27th October, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20151018172904/http://thewire.in/2015/05/27/the-fate-ofrti-after-one-year-of-modi-is-a-bad-omen-2535/ [16]. Thottam, J. (2011). The 2011 Time 100. Time, Accessed on 15th September 2019 http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066367_2066369_20664 99,00.html
Abstract: The Right to Information Act is legislation that aims to secure the Right To Information of every Indian citizen and provides for practical measures that are necessary for the actualization of the same. This paper has sought to trace the importance of access to information about government functioning in democracies, especially one as populous and diverse as India. The Right to Information Act has not only made governance more transparent and public officials more accountable but it has enhanced the ability of people to make informed choices and engage in productive political discourse. The power of information at the hands of the people has enforced state officials and departments into action. The Right to Information Act has helped guarantee social justice to the most oppressed communities in India. RTI requests and actions have even forced institutions including the Supreme Court to act in situations where the state machinery has been ignorant or careless. However, a recent amendment to the RTI Act, passed by the Indian Parliament in August 2019 threatens the autonomy of the institutions that are established to enforce it. This paper has also examined the impact that this amendment could have on the systems of checks and balances that ensures governance by the people in Indian democracy.

IJSSER is Member of