Annual Report 2015-16

Chapter 1
Introduction
The right to know is the “sine qua non” of a democracy. The Constitution of India
has enshrined the principles of democracy, especially by guaranteeing to its citizens
Fundamental Rights which inter-alia include the people’s right to know everything done
by the public functionaries. This right is implicit in Article 19(1)(a) and Article 21 of the
Constitution of India.
The Central Information Commission was established in October 2005 under the Right
to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act). RTI Act provides for setting out the practical regime
of Right to Information for citizens to secure the right to access to information held by
or under the control of public authorities. The legislative intent behind the enactment
of the RTI Act is to foster transparency and accountability in the working of every
Public Authority, bridge the gap between the information provider and the information
seeker, enhance efficiency in administration of public authorities, mitigate corruption
and promote good governance.
Salient features of the RTI Act
1.2 Public Authority
As per Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, a ‘Public Authority’ means any authority or body or
institution of self government established or constituted by or under the Constitution,
any other law made by the Parliament, any law made by the State Legislature and
notification or order made by the appropriate government. It includes any ‘body’ owned,
controlled or substantially financed and non-government organizations substantially
financed directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate government.
1.3 ‘’Right to Information’’
As per Section 2(j) of the RTI Act, 2005, the ‘Right to Information’ means the right of
a citizen to seek any information accessible under this Act, which is held by or under
control of any Public Authority and entitles him to inspect work, documents, records
which includes any document, manuscript and file and any electronic records, take
notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records, take certified samples of
material and obtain information as stored in any electronic mode or through print outs
wherein such information is stored in a computer or in any other device.
1.4 Exemption from Disclosure of Information
No right is unfettered and therefore while promoting institutional integrity and
transparency, Sections 8, 9, 10, 11 and 24 of the RTI Act enlist exemptions on
disclosure of certain information. Essentially, as per the RTI Act such information is
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