Answer By law4u team
The RTI Act, 2005 (Right to Information Act, 2005) is an important law enacted by the Parliament of India that gives citizens the legal right to access information from public authorities. Objective: To promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority and to empower citizens to seek information related to government functioning. Key features of the RTI Act, 2005: Any citizen of India can file an RTI application to seek information from a public authority (central, state, or local government bodies). The authority is legally bound to reply within 30 days (or 48 hours in life and liberty-related matters). It covers all constitutional bodies, including the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary (subject to some exemptions), as well as government-owned organizations and NGOs substantially funded by the government. Information can be requested about decisions, records, policies, functioning, expenses, tenders, etc. If the applicant is not satisfied with the response or if no response is given, they can file a First Appeal and then a Second Appeal before the Information Commission. Exemptions (Section 8): Some information is exempt from disclosure, such as: National security Cabinet papers Personal information without public interest Trade secrets or intellectual property Public Information Officer (PIO): Every public authority must appoint a PIO who is responsible for receiving and responding to RTI requests. Penalties: If the PIO refuses or delays information without reasonable cause, a penalty of Rs. 250 per day (up to Rs. 25,000) can be imposed. Why it matters: The RTI Act empowers citizens to hold the government accountable, uncover corruption, and ensure better governance. Let me know if you need a sample RTI application format or how to file one online.
