Date:04/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/04/stories/2006020401571900.htm

Back `Right to Information Act may help fight corruption'

Our Bureau

Kolkata , Feb. 3

THE Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Mr Justice Vikas Shridhar Sirpurkar, feels that the Right to Information Act (RTI), enacted by the Union Government with effect from October, 2005, if implemented in right spirit, may help eradicate the country's corruption to a considerable extent in the long run.

Incidentally, he said that India ranked 8th in the world as a corrupt nation.

Speaking at a workshop on "The Right to Information Act, 2005", organised here on Thursday by Bharat Chamber of Commerce, Mr Sirpurkar said that it would be difficult to combat corruption unless common people take initiative to use the Act in order to change the current state of governance.

He said the RTI Act should be considered as an act for future. Moreover, it should be considered a historic act in the post-independent era.

He said that mere enactment of laws and acts would not be able to improve the quality of life if these were not properly implemented. He advised the Government agencies to educate people about RTI Act.