The journey has just begun. But it is well begun. It is democracy in its most real sense. This is democratisation of information. This is the real essence of democracy. In the last eight years,there have been suo motu disclosures. It is not up to the level that we had hoped,but it is a very good beginning. We have received guidelines from the department of personnel and training and the monitoring of suo motu disclosure by public authorities is also assigned to the commission. The culture of transparency is now taking deeper roots.

Considering that the resistance from political parties and government servants to transparency moves is increasing,what are the challenges ahead,as per your experience?

I feel that people are now beginning to accept that this act is here to stay. The mindset is changing. In certain cases,it is changing fast and in some departments,it is changing with some resistance. There is no doubt in my mind that this change has to take place. The new people who are coming in are less resistant. They have only seen this culture in government. Older people may take little while.

The number of CIC orders are being challenged in courts. Is judicial intervention affecting the transparency regime?

Only a small percentage of CIC orders are being challenged a very,very small percentage. I will say with a little sadness that only public authorities are challenging our orders. They are using public money. Appellants usually do not have the resources to challenge our orders. It is my view that the commission is tilted towards the appellants. It is towards transparency. Public authorities should be a little conscious about using public funds to contest and question our decisions before the courts.

You have spent much time in government and then here at the commission. What is the mindset change needed among government officials,to help them disclose information in the public interest?

Section four is the heart of the RTI Act. That is related to suo motu disclosure. All departments have been given deadlines to place information in the public domain. The public need not exercise the RTI for every piece of information. This suo motu disclosure will lighten the unnecessary burden on central public information officers,public authorities and the information commissions as well.

Could you please name some departments that have resisted the transparency regime?

I will not get into which departments are challenging our orders. That is their right. I cannot criticise it. I can only say that that they should think before using public money to deny information and challenge orders in courts. Departments like the Delhi Development Authority and the capitals three municipal corporations need to do many things towards transparency and towards their record management. They really need to change their mindset.

To what extent is the RTI is being misused,as per your experience?

I think every law is being misused. There is misuse of the RTI Act but only very little. It has largely done good. Most of the work on the RTI has been good.

Shyamlal Yadav

Shyamlal Yadav is one of the pioneers of the effective use of RTI for investigative reporting. He is... Read More