Date:26/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/26/stories/2007102662010900.htm

Tamil Nadu

Right to information is the foundation of civil liberties, says Barnala

Special Correspondent

Accountability and transparency are two pillars of a democracy

CHENNAI: Any democracy can be said to have fully bloomed only when access to information in the public sphere is not restricted. Right to information is the foundation of civil liberties and underscores the fact that an elected government and its actions are open to questioning and accountable to people, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said here on Thursday.

Inaugurating a seminar on the Right to Information Act, organised by the Direct Taxes Regional Training Institute (DTRTI) here, he said information enabled people to make enlightened choices and keep a tab on elected representatives and officials who were supposed to act on their collective behalf. Accountability and transparency were the two pillars of a democracy.

Information to people helped in strengthening these pillars.

Transparency is the key to democracy. “In a democracy, people have every right to information except for strong reasons for such denial. There is a need for a change in the mindset of those who are for withholding information.” Instilling consciousness on sharing of information as per the RTI Act in the minds of bureaucrats and political executives is necessary, he said.

Significant legislation

Information Commissioner, Central Information Commission (CIC), A.N.Tiwari, said the RTI Act was a significant legislation and the only instrument of direct democracy.

After its introduction, the changes that were taking place were slow but telling. The change was not only in the functioning of departments, but also in the minds of officials.

Cost aspect

He felt that the cost aspect involved in providing information to applicants was an element that needed to be addressed sooner or later.

Chief Commissioner of Income-Tax, Chennai, C.R. Ravichandran, said people were entitled to know as to what was happening in government.

The RTI legislation empowered people in that they could demand information.

Director-General (Training), Income-Tax, Saroj Bala, said the training institution was a supporter of the RTI.s Officers should implement the law with a human face.

Awareness

Later, answering queries, Mr. Tiwari said it had been suggested to government that there could be an Institute for Transparency and Accountability Studies under the CIC. Its functions could include creation of awareness on the legislation.