Vistas of Right
to
Information
Right to Information Act, which came into force in India
in October 2005, should open up new vistas for journalists doing
investigative, in-depth and analytical reporting. It would not be of
much help in routine work on account of time delays and procedure
involved in getting information. Besides, the Government is trying to
make critical information such as file notings unavailable through an
amendment to the Act.
Mandatory provisions:
The Act makes it mandatory for public authorities to make information
available within 30 days from the date of request. Requests are to be
filed with respective public information officers or their assistants
with a nominal application fee. A cost based fee would be payable on
information received. It will be economical to get large chunks of
information in the electronic form.
The law comes at a time when Governmental data is increasingly
becoming
available in the electronic format. This opens up the possibility of
obtaining large databases in electronic form for analysis. Even
Geographical Information and maps could be obtained in this form. The
journalist will have to learn the necessary computer skills to make use
of such data. This site features an article on using census data and
primer on using database elsewhere.
Requests by email:
As per the law, requests for information can even be made through email
and replies obtained through email. However, there is yet no provision
for making electronic payments. Government departments are also
reluctant and ill prepared to handle email requests though that would
have speeded up matters.
The experience so far in India that many departments, especially in the
States, hardly ever provide the requested information within the
stipulated time. Retired civil servants who are not yet out of the
colonial mindset regarding Governmental information often head the
appellate Information Commissions. They are reluctant to act against
their former colleagues.
Penal provisions:
Some commissioners are reluctant to impose the fines specified in the
law for failure to supply requested information though the Act does not
provide any discretionary powers to the Commissioners. These are
challenges before the journalists and others. Much compulsion would be
needed to make the system work before journalists could effectively use
it.
This site provides links to Government Web sites dealing with Right to
Information in the respective list of links to Government departments
and
other agencies (see home page). A list of
databases, available online, is at http://cyberjournalist.org.in/links.html