Right to Information Act - Introduction

Right to Information Act 2005 came into force on 12 October 2005 (i.e. on 120th day of its enactment on 15 June 2005). However some provisions of the Act came into force with immediate effect. Such provisions relate to: Obligations of public authorities, Designations of Public Information Officers and Assistant Public Information Officers, Constitution of Central Information Commission, Constitution of State Information Commission, Non-applicability of the Act to Intelligent and Security Organizations, and Powers to make rules to carry out provisions of the act.

The Act extends to the whole of India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir.



Defining 'Information'

The Act defines information as 'any material in any form including records, documents, memos, emails, opinions, advices, press-releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force but does not include file notings.

Right to Information

'Right to Information' includes the right to:
- inspect works, documents, records.
- take notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records.
- take certified samples of material.
- obtain information in form of printouts, diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts.

With best wishes,

Keshav Ram Singhal