RIGHT TO INFORMATION: MASTER KEY TO GOOD GOVERNANCE
Significance:
Right to information is a tool to make the government more accountable and the right is a basic necessity of good governance.
Recommendations for improving the RTI Act:
- Single Window Portal for disclosure of all public authorities.
- Training of the Public Information Officers
- Multimedia campaigns in the local languages
- Single Window Agency at District Level so as to ease for an applicant to identify the Public Authority and to locate it.
On Whistleblowers:
- The Law Commission, in its 179th report (2001) recommended enactment of Public Interest Disclosure (Protection) Law
- 2nd ARC fully endorses the view and recommends a suitable legislation to protect whistleblowers
Current Status:
- 2nd ARC recognizes that there is neglect in the record keeping.
On Official Secrets Act (OSA):
- 2nd ARC recommended that it should be repealed and accommodated under the National Security Act (NSA).
- The Shourie Committee (Right to Information and Transparency, 1997) had recommended the Official Security Act to be applicable only on the violations of national security.
On Transparency:
- The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC), recommended that We should have an oath of transparency instead of the oath of secrecy.