The Right to Information (RTI) enables citizens to seek information held by public authorities, subject to the exemptions and limitations prescribed by law.
RTI is an important tool for promoting transparency, accountability and informed citizenship.
Which Act Provides RTI?
The principal legislation is the Right to Information Act, 2005.
The Act was enacted on 15 June 2005. Certain provisions came into force immediately, while the remaining provisions came into force on the 120th day after enactment. The Act establishes the statutory framework for access to information, Public Information Officers and Central and State Information Commissions.
What Information Can Citizens Seek?
Subject to the Act and its exemptions, citizens may seek information such as:
- Government records
- Official documents
- Orders and circulars
- Status of applications
- Information relating to public schemes
- Records held by public authorities
- Certified copies of documents
- Other information held by or under the control of a public authority
What Is the Benefit?
RTI promotes:
Transparency • Accountability • Public Participation • Informed Citizenship
It enables citizens to obtain information through a statutory mechanism rather than depending solely on informal sources.
How Can You Use RTI?
A citizen can generally:
- Identify the public authority that holds the information.
- Identify the appropriate Public Information Officer.
- Prepare a clear and specific information request.
- Submit the RTI application through the applicable procedure.
- Pay the prescribed fee, where applicable.
- Preserve the application and acknowledgement.
- If the response is not received or is considered inadequate, use the applicable appeal mechanism under the Act.
What RTI Is Not
RTI is primarily a mechanism for obtaining information.
An RTI application should not be treated as a substitute for:
- A criminal complaint
- A consumer complaint
- A police investigation
- A court case
- An appeal against a judicial order
- A general demand for action
- Where a person has a grievance, the appropriate complaint or legal mechanism should generally be used separately.
CRPC Assistance
CRPC may provide general RTI awareness, guidance on framing information requests and information regarding the appropriate statutory mechanism.
CRPC does not guarantee that information will be disclosed. The decision to provide or deny information rests with the competent Public Information Officer or appellate authority under the RTI framework.
