Right to Information and Itts Significance to Ensure Good Governance in India

Abstract

The free flow of information is must for a democratic society as it helps the society to grow and to retain a continuous debate and discussion among the people. No democratic government can survive without accountability and the basic postulate of accountability that is the people should have information about the functioning of the government. Gone are the days when public dealings were kept in strict secret, a practice which often led to corruption, misuse and abuse of statutory and administrative power. Freedom of information brings openness in the administration which helps to promote transparency in state affairs, keep government more accountable and ultimately reduce corruption. Disclosure of information in regard to the functioning of the government must be the rule and secrecy an exception. The Right to Information Act, 2005 was passed for making the government transparent and more accountable; the effective use of it would, in a long run, curb corruption. In a responsible Government like ours where all the agents of the public must be responsible for their conduct, there could be no secrets. There has been no vehicle available for individual citizens to impact the governance structure. In a system reeking with corruption and becoming increasingly insensitive to the problems of the disadvantaged Citizenry, the Right to Information has shown promise of empowering Citizens to get accountability and act as an enforcer of good governance.