Suveer Dubey, LLM (Criminal Law), Amity Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
With a focus on the citizen's entitlement to be informed about the workings of the government, a principle enshrined in the Constitution, the government's commitment to empowering the true masters of the nation holds immense importance in the context of policy frameworks, the fundamental philosophy of democracy, and the realization of good governance (GoB, 1972). Despite numerous government initiatives, including the Right to Information (RTI), research indicates that achieving the anticipated level of unhindered information flow remains a distant goal. Structural and procedural impediments, coupled with the unawareness of service recipients, pose direct and indirect challenges to the empowerment process. Both demand and supply-side pressures are essential to creating a conducive environment and generating more effective outcomes. Researchers observe that the interpretation of certain legal documents hinders the provision of information to citizens.
Before the enactment of the RTI Act, citizens refrained from expressing dissatisfaction or questioning any irregularities or anomalies in government activities and the functioning of public institutions. Furthermore, they faced obstacles in obtaining services without complications. Studies reveal that individuals used to invest more time, expend greater financial resources, and make additional visits to receive services from state-owned organizations. The secrecy act was identified as an impediment to information provision, allowing involved parties to unduly delay processes without providing reasons. Additionally, the reluctance of service providers, influenced by long-standing traditional administrative procedures, contributes to the persisting issue. Although the RTI act acts as a safeguard for people, true empowerment, as envisioned, is yet to be fully realized.
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