Do you agree that RTI serves to redress consumer grievances?

Yes, the Right to Information Act enables many rights to the consumers which redress from the consumer disputes. The Right to Information Act was enacted by the Parliament on 15 June 2015. It was approved by both the houses and was legally implemented in the country with the assent of the President on 13 October 2005. It replaces the Freedom of Citizens Act 2002. The act gives the power to every citizen of the country to request and get information from any public authority. They are bound by the act to reply and furnish the information within 30 days of application request. Political parties and private bodies do not come under the purview of the act.

Under the act, every citizen has the right to:

• Receive information from any department or office of the State Governments and the Central Government.

• View the documents or records and take certified copies of the same.

• Take the sample materials of their workings.

• Get information on computers, CD, floppy and other storage devices.

The first appeal for getting the information may be made to the officials in the Panchayats, Municipalities, Secretariat and other government departments within 30 days of getting information from the concerned Information Officer. If the information is not furnished within the first 30 days, the concerned applicant may make a second appeal to the State Information Commission.

The act was passed to empower the citizens and promote transparency and accountability in the working of the government. This helps to check corruption and other malpractices in the functioning of the government and the judicial system.