ABSTRACT
The legal position with regard to Right to Information (RTI) has developed through several Supreme Court judgments in the context of the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, which has gradually widened the scope of the right. Most laws require that “harm” must be demonstrated before the information can be withheld from the public. Violations may involve delay or refusal to provide information and altering or destroying documentary evidence. The power to impose penalties and disciplinary action lies only with the Information Commission and not the First Appellate Authority. Information flow is an important tool that offers verified data so as to protect individual, community, and national interests. Information management is a multifaceted process involving the collection, processing, storage, transmission, and use of information. The RTI Act of 2005 confers a constitutional RTI to citizens, and the word “information” is broader in ambit than just records or documents.
