The present is the age of information explosion. Information is knowledge. Information is power. Secrecy is the bulwark of inefficient and corrupt administration while transparency is the hallmark of honest and efficient administration. Democratic government requires openness and transparency in governance of the country. It is the basis of the demand of information justice. Freedom of information is the oxygen of democracy.

The Right to Information Act 2005 is a law enacted by the Parliament of India giving citizens of India access to records of Central Government and State Governments . The Act applies to all States and Union Territories of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir - which is covered under a State-level law. Private bodies are not within the Act's ambit directly. However, information that can be accessed under any other law in force by a public authority can also be requested for. In a landmark decision of 30-Nov-2006 ('Sarbajit Roy versus DERC')   Read More...

With the end of colonial days and with the rise of democracy and more responsible governments the demand of informed citizenry has also increased. The spirit of a modern democracy lies with the people’s right to take part in government’s decision making process. As we live in a country with representative form of government, it is expected that we know what the government is doing and for what reasons. Indian constitution does not specifically provide for a right to information but it can be well derived from the right to equality under article 14 , right to freedom of speech and expression under article 19(1)(a) and right to life and personal liberty under article 21.As right to equality includes right against arbitrariness it includes transparency in the government actions in the same manner. Supreme court has held in several cases that freedom of information not only includes freedom of media but also includes government held informati   Read More...