RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005: A CRITICAL STUDY

ABSTRACT

In a democratic system of governance, the real power to rule lies with the people. In democracy, the people of the country give their elected representatives the opportunity to rule. They also expect from them that the government will fulfill its responsibilities with full honesty and dedication. But over time, most of the nations did not fulfill their responsibilities honestly. They left no stone unturned in tearing apart the shreds of transparency and honesty. Whenever they got the opportunity, they did not consider it appropriate to lose it. They did everything that was anti-people and undemocratic. Every citizen of the country pays tax to the government in some form or the other. This tax is the foundation of the country’s development and system. Therefore, the public has the right to know when, where, and how the money is being spent. For this, it was necessary that the right to place the information before the public and to receive it be given to the public, which was possible only through a law. In 1992, the World Bank issued a document called "Administration and Development".  That document mentioned 7 important elements for good governance, one of which was the right to "information and transparency". Hence, on the basis of all these, the "Right to Information" was created on 15 June 2005. The main purpose of this right was that the public should get information about the decisions, operations and all related files and documents of all government and non-government organizations in a proper manner and at a minimum fee. From a research point of view, the purpose of this article is to clarify the constitutional logic. "Right to Information" mainly has two specific principles, first openness and transparency and second secrecy. In true sense, the main purpose of this right is to make government documents accessible to the general public.

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