‘Right to Information – A strong weapon to Empower Consumers'
The Right to Information Act (RTI) was passed by the Parliament of India on
15th June 2005 and came fully into force on 12th October 2005.
• The Act applies to all States and Union Territories of India except J&K, which has its own 'Right to Information Act, 2009’, which applies to the State Government of Jammu and Kashmir since 20thMarch 2009.
• It gives right to information held by the public authorities to all citizens of India.
• Right to information covers inspection of work, documents and records. It includes information in any form - diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or print-outs.
• Information can be obtained within 30 days from the date of request in a normal case and within 48 hours from time of request in matters relating to life or liberty of a person.
• Every public authority is under obligation to provide information on written request or request by electronic means.
• Every public authority is required to proactively disclose maximum information on
• nation-wide network.
• Information affecting sovereignty of India, security, strategic, scientific and economic interest of State etc is forbidden under the Act. There are also restrictions on third party information.
• There are penalties for refusal to receive an application for information or for not providing information.
• Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions have been constituted by the Central Government and the respective State Governments.

What are your Rights under RTI Act?
• The RTI Act gives you, as a citizen of India, the right to seek information held by the public authorities under the Central Government and the State Governments. The right includes inspection of work, documents and records; taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records; taking certified samples of material etc.

• You can also seek information from a public authority relating to any private body provided such information can be accessed by the public authority under any law for the time being in force.

• Similarly, non-Government organizations substantially financed by the Central Government or a State Government are also covered under the Act.

• The information which cannot be denied to Members of Parliament or State Legislature shall not be denied to you as a citizen of India.

• If you require information under RTI from the Ministries/Departments of Government of India, you can also file your RTI application online at the following portal: http://rtionline.gov.in/

First appeal can also be filed online.

Do you Know the Power of Right to Information?
RTI is a tool that can change your role from being a mere spectator to that of being an active participant in the process of governance. It is a powerful weapon in your hands.
Not only has the RTI Act been used to know more about government, it has also become a tool to make public institutions and officials accountable and fight corruption.

So, don’t underestimate the power that you can wield! more