Kritika Deora, National Forensic Sciences University, New Delhi
Priya Saroj, Amity Law School, Noida
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
― United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Introduction
In a democratic society information is the ultimate source of strength and power in the hands of common citizens. Access to public records is an essential requirement for a modern government in a democratic setup. The democracy is placed on pillars of openness and freedom, it makes a society free and gives power to common people. Hence when such a power is levied it is necessary that the common masses also have access to all the information pertaining to the governance of the country. The element of openness is an important aspect of a democratic system it reflects upon the concept and idea of right to know, right to access information and freedom. The authority to exercise the right to knowledge belongs to the people or to the country's citizens, and it is one that is granted to all citizens, particularly in democracies. For accountability and openness to function, information access is essential. It offers defence and security against injustice, abuse of authority, and corruption. True democracy cannot survive until every citizen has the right to take part in national governance. Lack of knowledge of all sides of the topics on which citizens are asked to express their opinions renders the right to participate in national affairs useless. When the channel of information is monopolised by the State or any other institution, one-sided information, deception, misdirection, and non-information all work together to produce an uninformed public, which turns democracy into a farce. Thus, in order to foster equality, justice, transparency, accountability, justness, responsibility, and openness, the Indian government introduced the right to information law.
