rti workshop day1

8/6/2019 RTI Workshop Day1

1/31

11


2/31

2

UnitedUnited NationsNations GeneralGeneral Assembly,Assembly, inin itsits

firstfirst sessionsession inin 19461946,, adoptedadopted ResolutionResolution5959 (I),(I), whichwhich statesstates:: FreedomFreedom of of

informationinformation isis aa fundamentalfundamental humanhuman rightright

andand .. .. ..thethe touchstonetouchstone ofof allall thethe freedomsfreedomstoto whichwhich thethe UNUN isis consecratedconsecrated..

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION :FREEDOM OF INFORMATION :

A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVEA GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE


3/31

3

ArticleArticle 1919 of of thethe UniversalUniversal DeclarationDeclaration ofof

HumanHuman Rights,Rights, aa UnitedUnited NationsNations GeneralGeneral

AssemblyAssembly ResolutionResolution 217217(III)(III) AA ofof 19481948

recognisesrecognises FreedomFreedom of of ExpressionExpression

includingincluding FreedomFreedom ofof InformationInformation andand FreeFreePressPress aa fundamentalfundamental humanhuman rightright..

FreedomFreedom ofof ExpressionExpression includesincludes thethe rightright toto

seek,seek, receivereceive andand impartimpart informationinformation andand

rightright toto accessaccess informationinformation heldheld byby publicpublic

authoritiesauthorities..


4/31

4

CHRONOLOGY OF FOI LAWS

SwedenSweden 17661766

ColombiaColombia 18881888

FinlandFinland 19511951

U.S.AU.S.A 19661966 Denmark, NorwayDenmark, Norway 19701970

FranceFrance 19781978

Australia, New ZealandAustralia, New Zealand 19821982

CanadaCanada 19831983

About 70 countries have passed FOI lawsAbout 70 countries have passed FOI laws..


5/31

5

Regional TrendsRegional Trends

EuropeEurope

NearlyNearly allall nationsnations havehave adoptedadopted FOIFOI lawslaws..

ChangeChange moremore dramaticdramatic inin CentralCentral andandEasternEastern EuropeEurope..

UkraineUkraine andand HungaryHungary ((19921992),), AzerbaijanAzerbaijan

((20052005),), MacedoniaMacedonia ((20062006))..


6/31

6

AmericasAmericas

USUS ((19661966)) andand CanadaCanada ((19831983),), lawslaws

weakerweaker thanthan manymany inin thethe regionregion..

Mexico,Mexico, oneone of of thethe strongeststrongest lawslaws

overseenoverseen byby InformationInformation CommissionCommission

andand advancedadvanced informationinformation systemsystem..


7/31

7

AsiaAsia--PacificPacific

AustraliaAustralia andand NewNew ZealandZealand ((19821982)) followedfollowed

byby SouthSouth KoreaKorea andand ThailandThailand inin 19901990ss..

JapanJapan adoptedadopted nationalnational lawlaw inin 20002000..

ChinaChina FreedomFreedom ofof InformationInformation RegulationRegulation

toto comecome intointo effecteffect onon 11 MayMay 20082008..

CivilCivil SocietySociety advocatesadvocates nownow pushingpushing

Indonesia,Indonesia, MalaysiaMalaysia andand CambodiaCambodia forfor

adoptionadoption ofof lawslaws..

InIn CentralCentral Asia,Asia, accessaccess largelylargely illusoryillusory inin

formerformer SovietSoviet Republics,Republics, thoughthough lawslaws

adoptedadopted inin UzbekistanUzbekistan andand TajikistanTajikistan..


8/31

8

MiddleMiddle EastEast

OnlyOnly IsraelIsrael adoptedadopted aa nationalnational lawlaw..

EffortsEfforts beingbeing mademade inin Jordan,Jordan, MoroccoMorocco andand

EgyptEgypt..

ProgressProgress slowslow.. ManyMany developmentdevelopment agenciesagencies

pressuringpressuring countriescountries toto adoptadopt lawslaws asas partpart ofof

antianti--corruptioncorruption measuresmeasures..

InIn SouthSouth Africa,Africa, PromotionPromotion ofof AccessAccess toto

InformationInformation ActAct hashas progressiveprogressive featuresfeatures

allowsallows accessaccess toto recordsrecords heldheld byby privateprivate

bodiesbodies ifif itit affectsaffects anan individualsindividuals rightsrights..

AfricaAfrica


9/31

9

Common Features of FOI lawsCommon Features of FOI laws

WhoWho cancan askaskCoverageCoverage

WhatWhat isis accessibleaccessible

ExemptionsExemptions

AppealsAppeals

SanctionsSanctions

ProactiveProactive DisclosureDisclosure


10/31

1010

THE EVOLUTIONTHE EVOLUTION

OFOF

THE RIGHT TO INFORMATIONTHE RIGHT TO INFORMATION

ACTACT


11/31

11

OverOver thethe years,years, thethe SupremeSupreme CourtCourt hashasconsistentlyconsistently ruledruled inin favorfavor ofof thethe citizenscitizens

rightright toto knowknow..

RTI IN INDIARTI IN INDIA

-- Bennett Coleman v. Union of IndiaBennett Coleman v. Union of India, (AIR, (AIR1973 SC 60).1973 SC 60).

InIn BennettBennett ColemanColeman,, thethe rightright toto

informationinformation waswas heldheld toto bebe includedincluded withinwithinthethe rightright toto freedomfreedom of of speechspeech andand

expressionexpression guaranteedguaranteed byby ArticleArticle1919 ((11)) (a)(a)..


12/31

12

STATESTATE OFOF UPUP VsVs.. RAJRAJ NARAINNARAIN [([(19751975)) 44SCCSCC428428]]

ININ AA GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT OFOF RESPONSIBILITYRESPONSIBILITY LIKELIKE

OURS,OURS, WHEREWHERE ALLALL THETHE AGENTSAGENTS OFOF THETHE

PUBLICPUBLIC MUSTMUST BEBE RESPONSIBLERESPONSIBLE FORFOR THEIRTHEIR

CONDUCT,CONDUCT, THERETHERE CANCAN BEBE BUTBUT FEWFEW SECRETSSECRETS..THETHE PEOPLEPEOPLE OFOF THISTHIS COUNTRYCOUNTRY HAVEHAVE AA RIGHTRIGHT

TOTO KNOWKNOW EVERYEVERY PUBLICPUBLIC ACT,ACT, EVERYTHINGEVERYTHING

THATTHAT ISIS DONEDONE ININ AA PUBLICPUBLIC WAYWAY BYBY THEIRTHEIR

PUBLICPUBLIC FUNCTIONARIESFUNCTIONARIES (AND)(AND) AREARE ENTITLEDENTITLEDTOTO KNOWKNOW THETHE PARTICULARSPARTICULARS OFOF EVERYEVERY

PUBLICPUBLIC TRANSACTIONTRANSACTION ININ ALLALL ITSITS BEARINGBEARING..


13/31

13

PUCLPUCL && AnotherAnother VsVs.. UOIUOI [([(20042004))22 SSCSSC 476476]]

ArticleArticle 1919((11)(a))(a) providesprovides forfor freedomfreedom ofof

speechspeech andand expressionexpression.. VotersVoters speechspeech oror

expressionexpression inin casecase ofof electionelection wouldwould includeincludecastingcasting ofof votes,votes, thatthat isis toto say,say, votervoter speaksspeaks

outout or or expressexpress byby castingcasting votevote.. For For thisthis

purpose,purpose, informationinformation aboutabout thethe candidatecandidate isis

mustmust..


14/31

14

Beginning of RTI Movement in IndiaBeginning of RTI Movement in India

NotwithstandingNotwithstanding constitutionalconstitutional provisionsprovisionsandand SupremeSupreme CourtCourt judgements,judgements, realreal

movementmovement forfor RTIRTI originatedoriginated fromfrom grassgrass

rootroot levellevel..

InIn 19871987,, Four Four humanhuman rightsrights activistsactivists

settledsettled inin Devdungri,Devdungri, BhimBhim Thesil,Thesil, forfor

livelihoodlivelihood issuesissues suchsuch asas paymentpayment ofof

lawfullylawfully guaranteedguaranteed minimumminimum wageswages etcetc..

InIn 19901990,, MazdoorMazdoor KisanKisan ShaktiShakti SangathanSangathan

(MKSS)(MKSS) foundedfounded..


15/31

15

DemandDemand for for transparencytransparency of of allall

developmentdevelopment fundsfunds--basisbasis ofof JanJan SunwaisSunwais..

MKSSMKSS managedmanaged toto getget documentsdocuments

mustermuster rollsrolls ofof constructionconstruction projectsprojects

hadhad namesnames ofof peoplepeople whowho diddid notnot workworkonon constructionconstruction sitesite..

RajasthanRajasthan RightRight toto InformationInformation Act,Act, 20002000,,

camecame intointo forceforce inin JuneJune 20002000..

RajasthanRajasthan experienceexperience onon demandingdemanding RTIRTI

echoedechoed inin otherother StatesStates..


16/31

16

LokLok Satta,Satta, anan NGONGO inin AndhraAndhra Pradesh,Pradesh,

undertookundertook massmass awarenessawareness campaigncampaign

acrossacross thethe StateState andand throughthrough aa PostPost CardCardCampaignCampaign representedrepresented toto PMPM demandingdemanding

enactmentenactment ofof RightRight toto InformationInformation LawLaw..

GrowingGrowing demanddemand for for RightRight toto publicpublic

informationinformation fromfrom CivilCivil SocietySocietyOrganisationsOrganisations inin thesethese StatesStates..


17/31

17

RTI LEGISLATIONS IN STATES

TamilnaduTamilnadu 19961996

GoaGoa 19971997

Rajasthan, Karnataka, MaharashtraRajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra 20002000

Delhi , AssamDelhi , Assam 20012001

Madhya PradeshMadhya Pradesh 20022002

Jammu and KashmirJammu and Kashmir 20042004


18/31

18

DoP&T,DoP&T, GovtGovt.. ofof IndiaIndia setset upup aa WorkingWorking

GroupGroup onon thethe RightRight toto InformationInformation andand

PromotionPromotion of of OpenOpen andand TransparentTransparent

GovernmentGovernment inin JanuaryJanuary 19971997 underunder MrMr.. HH..DD..

Shouri,Shouri, whichwhich submittedsubmitted itsits reportreport andand DraftDraft

BillBill onon FreedomFreedom ofof InformationInformation inin MayMay 19971997..

TheThe needneed toto enactenact aa lawlaw onon rightright toto

informationinformation waswas recognisedrecognised unanimouslyunanimously bybythethe ChiefChief MinistersMinisters ConferenceConference onon EffectiveEffective

andand ResponsiveResponsive Government,Government, heldheld onon 2424thth

May,May, 19971997 atat NewNew DelhiDelhi..


19/31

19

TheThe GovernmentGovernment ofof IndiaIndia introducedintroduced thethe

FreedomFreedom ofof InformationInformation Bill,Bill, 20002000 (Bill(Bill NoNo..9898

ofof 20002000)) inin thethe LokLok SabhaSabha onon 2525thth July,July,20002000..

TheThe Bill,Bill, whichwhich castcast anan obligationobligation uponupon

publicpublic authoritiesauthorities toto furnishfurnish suchsuch

informationinformation whereverwherever askedasked for,for, waswas passedpassedbyby thethe ParliamentParliament asas thethe FreedomFreedom ofof

InformationInformation ActAct 20022002..


20/31

20

However,However, thethe ActAct couldcould notnot bebe

broughtbrought intointo forceforce becausebecause thethe datedate

fromfrom whichwhich thethe ActAct couldcould comecome intointoforce,force, waswas notnot notifiednotified inin thethe OfficialOfficial

GazetteGazette..


21/31

21

Later,Later, however,however, thethe UPAUPA GovernmentGovernment

decideddecided toto repealrepeal thethe FOIFOI Act,Act, andand

enactedenacted aa newnew legislation,legislation, thethe RightRight totoInformationInformation ActAct 20052005..


22/31

2222

Short Title:Short Title: The Right to InformationThe Right to InformationAct 2005Act 2005

Official Citation:Official Citation: Act No. 22 of 2005Act No. 22 of 2005

Date of Presidential Assent:Date of Presidential Assent: 15th June, 200515th June, 2005

Fully came into Force:Fully came into Force: 12th Oct, 200512th Oct, 2005

Coverage:Coverage: Extends to whole of IndiaExtends to whole of Indiaexcept the State of J&Kexcept the State of J&K

BASIC FACTS: RIGHT TO INFORMATION

ACT


23/31

23

OBJECTIVES OF RTI ACT

Overall Goal: To Promote Transparency and

Accountability in the Working

of every Public Authority

Key Objective: Provide for setting up the

practical regime of right

to information forcitizens to secure access to

information under the control of

public authorities.


24/31

24

SALIENT FEATURES OFSALIENT FEATURES OF

RTI ACTRTI ACT

TransparentTransparent

Maximum DisclosuresMaximum Disclosures

Reasonable FeeReasonable Fee

Effective Mechanism for access toEffective Mechanism for access toinformationinformation

Independent appellate mechanismIndependent appellate mechanism Stringent Penalty for defianceStringent Penalty for defiance

Suo motuSuo motudisclosuresdisclosures

Empowerment of citizensEmpowerment of citizens


25/31

25

COVERAGECOVERAGE

Came into effect from 12 October, 2005.Came into effect from 12 October, 2005.

Covers Central, State and LocalCovers Central, State and Local

governments, all bodies owned, controlledgovernments, all bodies owned, controlledor substantially financed by government;or substantially financed by government;

NonNon--government organization substantiallygovernment organization substantially

financed, directly or indirectly by fundsfinanced, directly or indirectly by funds

provided by Govt.provided by Govt.


26/31

26

COVERAGECOVERAGE (continued)(continued)

Covers the executive, judiciaryCovers the executive, judiciary

and legislatureand legislature

Includes information relating toIncludes information relating to

any private body which can beany private body which can be

accessed by a public authorityaccessed by a public authorityunder any other law for the timeunder any other law for the time

being in force.being in force.


27/31

27

INFORMATIONINFORMATION

MeansMeans any material in any form,any material in any form,

including records, documents, memos,including records, documents, memos,

ee--mails, opinions, advice, pressmails, opinions, advice, press

releases, circulars, orders, logbooks,releases, circulars, orders, logbooks,

contracts, reports, papers, samples,contracts, reports, papers, samples,

models, data material held in anymodels, data material held in any

electronic form.electronic form.


28/31

28

RECORDRECORD

Record includesRecord includes

Any document, manuscript and file;Any document, manuscript and file;

Any microfilm, microfiche and facsimile copyAny microfilm, microfiche and facsimile copy

of a document;of a document;

Any reproduction of image or images;Any reproduction of image or images;embodies in such microfilm (whetherembodies in such microfilm (whetherenlarged or not; andenlarged or not; and

Any other material produced by a computerAny other material produced by a computeror any other device.or any other device.


29/31

29

RIGHT TO INFORMATIONRIGHT TO INFORMATION

MeansMeans the right to informationthe right to information

accessible under this act which isaccessible under this act which is

held by or under the control of anyheld by or under the control of anypublic authority and includes thepublic authority and includes the

right to:right to:

**Inspection of work, documents, records;Inspection of work, documents, records;*Taking notes, extracts, or certified copies*Taking notes, extracts, or certified copies

of documents or records;of documents or records;


30/31

30

**Taking certified samples of material;Taking certified samples of material;

*Obtaining information in the form of*Obtaining information in the form of

diskettes, floppies, tapes, videodiskettes, floppies, tapes, videocassettes or in any other electroniccassettes or in any other electronic

mode or through printouts wheremode or through printouts where

such information is stored in asuch information is stored in a

computer or in any other devicecomputer or in any other device..

RIGHT TO INFORMATIONRIGHT TO INFORMATION

(continued)(continued)


31/31

31

rti workshop day1

Documents