Right to Information in India: A Legal Critical Analysis

Abstract

Accountability as well as transparency and information constitute two of the seven specific aspects of 'governance' identified by the 1992 World Bank document on Governance and Development in its quest for 'good governance'. Consequently, the citizen's right to information is increasingly being recognized as an important instrument to promote openness, transparency and accountability in public administration. In fact, invisible government has become obsolete in this age of liberalization and globalization. The citizens, the stake holders, the consumers of public services, the beneficiaries of development programmes, the civil society organizations, the business and commercial houses – all must get the information they require form the public authorities relating to their administration, operations or decisions.