The Right to Information (RTI) Act, once celebrated as a milestone in India’s democratic journey, is gradually losing its effectiveness. Despite its intent to promote transparency and accountability, the system today stands crippled by bureaucratic apathy, delayed responses, and a lack of enforcement.
Officials routinely ignore RTI applications, provide incomplete or misleading information, or simply deny access without valid reasons. The law clearly mandates a 30-day deadline to furnish information, yet violations are seldom punished. In most cases, erring officers face no consequences, turning the Act into an empty formality rather than a tool for truth.
Adding to the crisis is the failure of several states to appoint Information Commissioners,the watchdogs meant to ensure compliance. Where appointments are made, they often go to individuals perceived to be politically loyal, undermining the independence of the system. This has eroded public faith and weakened citizens’ confidence in the RTI framework.
Whistle-blowers and RTI activists, who risk their lives to expose corruption and administrative misconduct, face mounting threats. Many have been harassed, attacked, or even killed for daring to reveal the truth. The absence of robust protection laws has emboldened those who want to silence voices of accountability.
Advocate L. Swetha of the Telangana High Court has strongly urged the Union Government to enact stringent legal safeguards to protect RTI users and activists. “When truth-seekers are punished for demanding accountability, democracy itself is endangered,” she warns.
She further emphasized that the RTI Act needs urgent reform with stricter penalties for officials who deny information, faster disposal of appeals, and independent appointment of commissioners. Citizen awareness campaigns and institutional support for RTI applicants must also be strengthened to revive public faith in governance.
It is time to restore the original spirit of the RTI Act, ensuring that transparency, accountability and citizen empowerment remain the cornerstones of India’s democracy.
Transparency must not be a privilege ,it is the pillar of democracy.