RTI and democracy

CIC on how RTI has redefined democracy for the average Indian

GN Bureau | February 17, 2010



Wajahat Habibullah is the Chief Information Commissioner at the Central Information Commission (CIC).

He has held various positions in the Indian government. He has served as the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir (1990 to 1993), Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Consumer Affairs (January 15, 2003-Sept 24, 2003) and Secretary, Ministry of Textiles (August 1-December 9, 2004). Before joining the CIC in October 2005, he was the Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

In this session of GN talk, Habibullah talks about “Right to Information (RTI) Act and democracy”. He says that just the right to exercise franchise does not make a democracy and the RTI Act has given the Indian democracy a new meaning. It is after the RTI Act that people can ask questions and make suggestions to the government.

 


 

Comments

 

Other News

`Development must be judged beyond GDP, with rights and justice at core`

Delivering the IXth Chief Justice M.C. Chagla Memorial Lecture on ‘Human Rights and Sustainable Development Goals’, in Mumbai Friday,  former Chief Justice of India Bhushan R. Gavai questioned whether conventional economic indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP), national income,

RTI exposes Rs 16,909 crore cost blowout on Mumbai-Goa Highway

Seventeen years after the centre first approved the widening of National Highway 66 between Mumbai and Goa into a four-lane highway, a fresh RTI reply has revealed a sharp escalation in the project`s sanctioned cost.   According to the RTI reply obtained by activist Jeetendra

"India`s semiconductor ecosystem is expanding rapidly"

Prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi. Addressing the occasion and highlighting the significance of the event`s fifth edition, the PM drew a parallel between the launch of Semicon India and Vishwakarma Diwas. He pointed out the beautiful coincidence of

Cabinet approves raising EPFO wage ceiling from Rs.15,000 p.m. to Rs.25,000

The union cabinet, chaired by the prime minister, has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Labour & Employment to enhance the wage ceiling for mandatory coverage under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) from Rs.15,000 to Rs.25,000 per month. The decision is expected to bring

UPI continues to remain free for peer-to-peer transactions: Finance Ministry

The new UPI framework introduced has no impact on any person to person transactions, and UPI will continue to remain completely free for all person-to-person transactions, irrespective of the amount transferred, the finance ministry clarified on Tuesday.   Payments to merchan

SEMICON India 2026 and the making of a chip powerhouse

On Thursday, prime minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate SEMICON India 2026 at Yashobhoomi in Dwarka, New Delhi. Global chipmakers, policymakers and investors will fill the halls, all watching an industry India has built from the ground up. For three days, the country`s semi-con (semiconductor) manufact

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter