Bringing Information to the Citizens
Right to Information Act 2005 mandates timely response to citizen requests for government information. It is an initiative taken by Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions to provide a– RTI Portal Gateway to the citizens for quick search of information on the details of first Appellate Authorities,PIOs etc. amongst others, besides access to RTI related information / disclosures published on the web by various Public Authorities under the government of India as well as the State Governments
Objective of the Right to Information Act :
The basic object of the Right to Information Act is to empower the citizens,promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Government,contain corruption, and make our democracy work for the people in real sense.It goes without saying that an informed citizen is better equipped to keep necessary vigil on the instruments of governance and make the government more accountable to the governed.The Act is a big step towards making the citizens informed about the activities of the Government.
Freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the Constitution of India, like the right to equality, life and liberty, have been liberally construed by the Supreme Court of India from inception. The right of freedom of speech and expression embraces within its scope the freedom of propagation and interchange of ideas, dissemination of information which would aid in the citizen’s understanding of the working of his Government and its various organs in a democracy. The importance which the framers of our Constitution attached to this freedom is evident from the fact that restrictions could be placed on that right could be placed by law only on the limited grounds specified in Article 19 (2).
The belief that access to information is a human right is reflected in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed in December 1948: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.”
The right of citizens’ access to information is an important means of achieving an accountable, transparent and participatory Government.
Government College, Bomdila has also set up the Right to Information Cell to secure access to information and also to promote transparency and accountability under the control of public authorities of the College. The first application (Form-A) was received by the PIO of the College on 18-07-2016 (ID No-1) seeking information regarding Minor Works under Government College, Bomdila for the Academic Session 2015-16. The information asked for was provided to the appellants under Form-D, Rule-4(3) within the time limit Vide Letter No. GCB/PIO/002/2016-17, Dated 03-08-2016.
For more information under RTI, the citizens may consult the Arunachal Pradesh RTI Rule at the official website of Government of Arunachal Pradesh: www.arnsic.in