History of Right to Information in India - GovtVacancy.Net

History of Right to Information in India

Its need was felt in India also due to the freedom of information movements all over the world. However, it has been recognized that the right to know is also enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India. In this, it is a matter of giving the right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression to all citizens. There is no separate mention of the freedom of the press in the constitution. The freedom of the press has also been considered inherent in this freedom given to every citizen. Similarly, the right to information has also been described as an essential part of it. Right-to-information decisions have been given in many judgments of the Supreme Court  such as-

 

* In the Indian Express Newspapers v Union of India, 1985, the Supreme Court held that citizens have a right to know about information relating to the operation of the government.

 

* In Hamdard Dispensary Vs Union of India 1960, it has been said that freedom of speech and expression is also included in the right to receive and receive information and views on matters of general interest.

 

In Himmatlal v. Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad, 1973, the Supreme Court held that the basic concept of democracy is that there should be governance on the basis of the consent of the citizens. This consent should be free and natural as well as based on adequate information and deliberation from various sources.

 

According to the Second Press Commission, 1982 – “The basis of democracy is an informed and informed public opinion and the public can form its opinion only when it is fully informed. So it is important that  whatever information the government has, it is available to the public."

 

The 10th Five Year Plan document states that if the information is made available to all citizens as a right, then the implementation of development plans will become easier for the government.

 

The most concrete, clear, and relentless movement for the right to information in India was launched by the farmers of Rajasthan. Under the leadership of Aruna Rai and Nikhil Dey, our money, and our account movement became the leader of the Right to Information in India. In 1975, after leaving the IAS job,  Aruna Rai, who was associated with mass movements, laid the foundation of an organization - 'Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan' in Devdungri village of Rajasthan in 1987.  Former Air Marshal of India PKD. With the help of his son Nikhil Dey and local activist  Shankar Singh, the organization soon gained a strong foothold. Under its leadership,  the movement on the questions of wages means of livelihood, and land intensified.

 

Similarly, the campaign against embezzlement and low wages in development schemes, launched in 1993,  gradually took the form of a movement for transparency. Meanwhile, to expose the huge irregularities in Apna Gaon, Apna Kaam plan, on 15th June 1994, a dharna was held in Bhima Rajsamand, demanding documents related to it. In the month of June this year, in  Kot Kirana village of Pali district, the fraud was detected in the investigation conducted by the BDO under pressure from the villagers. After this, the unique experiment of public hearings against corruption started. In the public hearing,  huge discrepancies were found when the documents were presented among the villagers for investigation. On the basis of public hearings in four districts, strong Kisan Shakti Sangathan has helped corrupt officials and publicTried to register a case against the representatives. But it was not allowed. After this, the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan intensified the movement for the right to know. In May 2000, the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly passed the Right to Information Act. On the same day, by amending the Panchayati Raj Act, the social audit was made mandatory in Ward Sabha and Gram Sabha. Right to Information Act came into force in Rajasthan on 26 January 2001. Rajasthan may not have gotten the credit of being the first state to give the right to information, but the villagers here certainly got the historical distinction of presenting its concept and example to the whole country.

 

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