Research Scholar, Faculty, Utkal University, University Law College, Bhubaneswar
Online published on 23 February, 2017.
The Real ‘Swaraj ’will come not by the acquisition of authority by a few but by the acquisition of capacity by all to resist authority when abused.1 Right to Information (hereinafter RTI) is a transformative law and it has come out of peoples movement that can deliver significant social benefits. RTI is a tool for vibrant democracy and promotes good governance, by empowering the citizen to participate effectively and holding government officials accountable. Rather than just providing information, RTI Act in most of the countries has served to be an effective watchdog ensuring all those coming in purview of the Act to work in accordance with rules and regulations, without any irregularities. Currently, the RTI Act in India is passing through a decisive phase, much more needs to be done to facilitate its growth and development. RTI Act is a path making legislation which brings to light the secrecy of administration. It is an effective means to promote democratic ideology. The act is powerful instrument to fight against corruption. If transparency and accountability are the imperatives for sustaining democratic governance, access to information is a vital instrument of societal transformation and the Right to Information Act, 2005 helps in achieving the same. Besides, apart from ensuring greater transparency it also acts as a deterrent against the arbitrary exercise of public powers. The governance is, therefore, undoubtedly strengthened by the RTI. The paper essentially focuses on Right to Information as an effective means to strengthen participatory democracy and ushering people centred governance.
Right to Information, Concept and Elements of Governance, RTI Effective instrument of Good Governance, Transparency and Accountability
