The Supreme Court has issued directives to both the Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions to ensure the proper implementation of the provisions outlined in the Right to Information Act of 2005. This includes a focus on proactive disclosure of information by public authorities. The Supreme Court underscored that power and accountability are interconnected. This directive was issued by the Apex Court as part of its judgment in response to a plea seeking the effective enforcement of a provision of the Right to Information Act, which mandates that public authorities proactively disclose crucial information regarding their operations.
Repeated interventions by various courts to enforce the provisions of the RTI Act highlight a concerning trend. The increasing number of lawsuits at both the CIC and SICs indicates that the public is being denied access to information following RTI guidelines. The Department of Personnel and Training had issued an Office Memorandum mandating third-party audits, but participation in these audits had been lacking. This situation is especially troubling since it necessitates the highest court in the country to step in to safeguard the RTI Act. The RTI Act was enacted to bring transparency and accountability to the system, and any denial of information runs counter to the very essence of the RTI Act. The right approach will be to ensure that the public has access to essential information without the need for formal requests, promoting a more open and informed society.
This ruling is a significant boost for RTI activists, who tirelessly work to promote transparency and accountability within the system. Their efforts are crucial in upholding the principles on which the RTI Act was founded, and this directive from the Supreme Court reinforces the importance of their work. It serves as a reminder that the RTI Act is a vital tool for ensuring Government accountability and that it must be upheld and enforced diligently.
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