Right To Information Act

  Right To Information Act

  a  Magic  wand  against  corruption

 JITHI  R  NATH

 2005 is an year of second  independence for our nation. The Right To Information act ,commonly known as RTI act  came in to force in that year. Now it has become  a right of every citizen of India to know what is happening in and around the government offices , any establishment funded by govt. or even in judiciary, executive and in legislative authorities and even get copies of the records.  The tax payer is now able to find out for what his tax is being used or how or through whom and if there is any defaulter or improper use by any beneficiary, just by writing in a white paper affixing Rs. Ten only. The services available to him from any office, how and when etc. should  be exhibited apart from maintaining all the records for 20 years even in electronics form. The public information officer or any other person is fined with Rs.250/- per day for delay or wrong information. Now the subordinate officers are also protected from unlawful ‘verbal orders ‘from higher authorities .Every public servant is now expecting a query from any person without disclosing any reason, about his actions/decisions and hence think twice before taking a wrong decision or delaying any act. Thanks to law makers  and Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Hon’ble Prime Minister  for giving us such a powerful  weapon in our hands. Let’s use it wisely and only in appropriate place.                                               

( Jithi R Nath is Second year Humanities student in Government Higher Secondary School  For   Girls, Thalassery,  Kannur, Kerala.)