Shubhang Gomasta elucidates the Right to Information guaranteed to the citizenry, along with commenting upon its components and it’s nexus with good governance.
Information is a right which every person has, irrespective of his caste, sex, nationality etc. India is a developing country. India has a tough history of colonial rule of the British of about 200 years. In the year 1947, India got independence from the British rule and became a socialist, secular and democratic. With one of the largest democracy and the largest constitution of the world, the free flow of information from the state to public and vice versa is a must, and is also helpful to form a democratic society where all of its citizens can take active participation. Such is a requisite for fulfilling the basic criteria of a democratic framework.
The policies of openness enhance the democracy and the national stability, which then enhances greater public trust in elected representatives. In the democratic form of government, the coordination among the elected representative is a must because sans the trust of the people, the government will not be able to perform its functions due to huge resistance from the common masses, and thus, the implementation of the policies become very tough. The government also faces more problem if the government secrecy exacerbates, and there is the perception of favouritism or exclusion. Every human being is vested with a specific set of rights, and out of these, the right to hold public opinion and the right to seek impart any information from the public authorities becomes imperative.
RIGHT TO INFORMATION AND GOOD GOVERNANCE
The concept of good governance has also significant role to play when it comes to the right to information. Good governance must aim at increasing the horizon of the social oppournity and eradication of poverty. It should focus on increasing employment, increasing the efficient delivery of services, and empowerment. In the 11th Five Year Plan, the Government of India has placed good governance and inclusive growth which aimed at good governance.
The concept of good governance has been beneficial to the continues growth of the country. The major portion of good governance is been covered by the RTI as it can be termed as anti corruption, where the authority, and its institution, are accountable, effective and efficient. RTI helps to make a country less corrupt and creates a social change. One has to appreciate that without been provided information every person in the society will remain marginalized and they won’t be able to live a dignified right of people. It serves as very important tool or a instrument to protect the fundamental rights of the people. There remains a very close link between the right to information and good governance.
Good governance can be substituted to transparency, accountability and responsiveness, for the same there has to be some mechanism to promote openness, transparency and accountability in the government administration. People are the sole part in a representative form of government. So it is necessary that they must have to know all the functioning of government activities to frame a practical regime of good governance in administrative process.
Each person who is a valid voter and has played a pivotal role in the forming of the government has all the rights to know whether his vote has the value or not. As a taxpayer , each person should have the right where his money is going and how and where it is spend. In addition to this, in a democratic country, citizens should develop the skill to gain access to information of all kinds and to put such information to the most effective use.
In the event of good governance the need for transparency and efficiency is a must. There has been always been a long drawn demand for an effective provision for the right to information and the RTI ACT of 2005 has been capable of serving the purpose.
CONCLUSION
The government stands for the welfare and the service of the general public. In a Government are responsible for their conduct there remains no scope for keeping any secrets. .The common public have the right to know every act of the government, i.e. – What it has done? How has it been done? Where is the money of the common people actually invested, and has any development been caused due to the same?
Such questions become integral to answer.
REFERENCES AND CITATION :
1. See Dr Medipally Sathyam The Right To Information Act : Strengthening Democracy And Development
2. Access at : http://www.caluniv.ac.in/globamdiajournal/WINTER%202010%20COMMENTARIES/Commentaries%204.pd
3. Access at : http://www.ijhssi.org/papers/v2(3)/version-1/B231122.pdf.
4. Access at : http://www.ijser.org/researchpaper%5CRight-to-Information-Act-A-tool-for-good-governance-and-social-change-through-Information-Technology.pdf.
5. Access at : http://www.ijhssi.org/papers/v2(3)/version-1/B231122.pdf.
6. See Right to Information Act: A Key To Good Governance by Sri Keshabananda Borah
