The Twin Beacons Of Democracy: Unravelling Rti & Judicial Activism

Anjali Pandey, S.S Khanna Girls' Degree College, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj

Right to Information: Introduction

RTI, which stands for Right to Information, is a Fundamental Right of Indian citizens to seek information from government offices, departments, ministries, and all the organizations run by the Government of India, or any other organization substantially aided by the Government of India or any other state government. Anybody can seek information from any government organization across the Indian Territory, and it is not necessary that the applicant who is seeking information should be of the same state or Union territory, from where the information is sought.

Under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act, information means “any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advice, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force”.

"Public authority" means any authority or body or institution of self-government established or constituted by or under the Constitution; by any other law made by Parliament/State Legislature and by a notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government.2