Chief Information Commissioner Addresses a Session on RTI Act in Bhopal

Central Chief Information Commissioner in Bhopal
Bhopal | June 07, 2006 10:57:26 PM IST

Notwithstanding any exemption listed under the Right to Information Act, a public authority may allow access to information, if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to protected interests, Central Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said today.

''Democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of information which are vital to its functioning, and also to contain corruption and to hold governments and their instrumentalities accountable to the governed,'' he said while addressing an interactive session on the Act, organised here by PHDCCI, a release said.

Pointing out that every public authority should maintain all records appropriately, computerise the same and ensure that it could be connected through a countrywide network, he added that the Right to Information includes the right to inspect work, documents, records; take notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records, take certified samples of material and obtain information in the form of printouts, diskettes, floppies, tapes, video casettes or any other electronic mode.

''Responsibilites of public authorities include providing reasons for administrative or quasi-judicial decisions to affected persons, providing information suo moto, providing information to the Information Commission, raising awareness, educating and training, compiling in 18 months and updating regularly the local language guide to information,'' Mr Habibullah added, as per the release.

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