Democracy and Transparency in the Indian State

Democracy and Transparency in the Indian State PDF Author: Prashant Sharma
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317623940
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 316

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Book Description
The enactment of the national Right to Information (RTI) Act in 2005 has been produced, consumed, and celebrated as an important event of democratic deepening in India both in terms of the process that led to its enactment (arising from a grassroots movement) and its outcome (fundamentally altering the citizen--state relationship). This book proposes that the explanatory factors underlying this event may be more complex than imagined thus far. The book discusses how the leadership of the grassroots movement was embedded within the ruling elite and possessed the necessary resources as well as unparalleled access to spaces of power for the movement to be successful. It shows how the democratisation of the higher bureaucracy along with the launch of the economic liberalisation project meant that the urban, educated, high-caste, upper-middle class elite that provided critical support to the demand for an RTI Act was no longer vested in the state and had moved to the private sector. Mirroring this shift, the framing of the RTI Act during the 1990s saw its ambit reduced to the government, even as there was a concomitant push to privatise public goods and services. It goes on to investigate the Indian RTI Act within the global explosion of freedom of information laws over the last two decades, and shows how international pressures had a direct and causal impact both on its content and the timing of its enactment. Taking the production of the RTI Act as a lens, the book argues that while there is much to celebrate in the consolidation of procedural democracy in India over the last six decades, existing social and political structures may limit the extent and forms of democratic deepening occurring in the near future. It will be of interest to those working in the fields of South Asian Law, Asian Politics, and Civil Society.

Democracy and Transparency in the Indian State

Democracy and Transparency in the Indian State PDF Author: Prashant Sharma
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317623940
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 316

Get Book

Book Description
The enactment of the national Right to Information (RTI) Act in 2005 has been produced, consumed, and celebrated as an important event of democratic deepening in India both in terms of the process that led to its enactment (arising from a grassroots movement) and its outcome (fundamentally altering the citizen--state relationship). This book proposes that the explanatory factors underlying this event may be more complex than imagined thus far. The book discusses how the leadership of the grassroots movement was embedded within the ruling elite and possessed the necessary resources as well as unparalleled access to spaces of power for the movement to be successful. It shows how the democratisation of the higher bureaucracy along with the launch of the economic liberalisation project meant that the urban, educated, high-caste, upper-middle class elite that provided critical support to the demand for an RTI Act was no longer vested in the state and had moved to the private sector. Mirroring this shift, the framing of the RTI Act during the 1990s saw its ambit reduced to the government, even as there was a concomitant push to privatise public goods and services. It goes on to investigate the Indian RTI Act within the global explosion of freedom of information laws over the last two decades, and shows how international pressures had a direct and causal impact both on its content and the timing of its enactment. Taking the production of the RTI Act as a lens, the book argues that while there is much to celebrate in the consolidation of procedural democracy in India over the last six decades, existing social and political structures may limit the extent and forms of democratic deepening occurring in the near future. It will be of interest to those working in the fields of South Asian Law, Asian Politics, and Civil Society.

Right to Information

Right to Information PDF Author: Dr. K.B. Rai
Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan
ISBN: 9351866084
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 357

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Book Description
Right to Information Act is a unique act empowering the citizens of India and promote transparency and accountability in the working of the government. It applies to all states and Union Territories except Jammu and Kashmir. It has replaced the Freedom for Information Act. Every citizen of India should have the knowledge of this act; so that he/she is not coerced by the government. It is specially formulated in order to preserve the sanctity of democracy of the people. The act helps contain corruption and makes democracy work for the people in the real sense. An informed person is equipped to keep necessary vigil on the working of the government. Therefore; it is essential to have proper knowledge regarding it. At times the officers themselves find it difficult to decide upon. In order to help them easily find the decisions; they have been listed subject and section-wise. The book serves as a ready-reckoner of RTI Act.

The Right to Information in India

The Right to Information in India PDF Author: Sudhir Naib
Publisher: Oxford India Short Introductio
ISBN: 9780198089353
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The Oxford India Short Introductions are concise, stimulating, and accessible guides to different aspects of India. Combining authoritative analysis, new ideas, and diverse perspectives, they discuss subjects which are topical yet enduring, as also emerging areas of study and debate. Access to information is indispensable to the functioning of any true democracy. An Indian citizen's right to information is guaranteed by Constitution of India and implicitly embedded in his right to the freedom and expression. Bringing together the major aspects of the Right to Information Act 2005, this book presents a clear and concise introduction to: -the evolution of the Act and the various privileges conferred under it, - the procedures involved in seeking information, - the duties of information suppliers, and - the kinds of information which are exempted from disclosure. Through in-depth comparative analyses of the law in various other parts of the world, it captures the strengths and drawbacks of the RTI Act, its success stories, and suggests policy measures to improve its implementation.

The RTI Story: Power to the People

The RTI Story: Power to the People PDF Author: Aruna Roy
Publisher: Roli Books Private Limited
ISBN: 8193704916
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 457

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Book Description
Aruna Roy resigned from the IAS in 1975 to work with peasants and workers in rural Rajasthan. In 1990 she helped co-found the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). The MKSS struggles in the mid 90s for wages and other rights gave birth to the now celebrated Right to Information movement. Aruna continues to be a part of many democratic struggles and campaigns. This book is a collective history that tells the story of how ordinary people can come together and prevail against great odds, to make democracy more meaningful.

The Right to Information: A Brief Overview

The Right to Information: A Brief Overview PDF Author: Pushkal Kumar Pandey
Publisher: Walnut Publication
ISBN: 9390261414
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 332

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Book Description
The Right to Information Act, 2005 is a golden piece of legislation which enacted to ensure transparency and accountability in governance of the country. After independence, no legislation has yielded such a faster result as has been yielded by this Act. It has given a kind of weapon in the hands of citizens to use against corruption and red-tapism prevalent in bureaucracy. This Act has revolutionary impact on the official work culture in our government and public enterprises. Each day this Act is discovering untraveled path and piercing new veil in administration. It has widespread effect in a very short span of time without much effort of executive or bureaucracy. Due to this Act various hidden facts of vital importance about administration revealed which were still considered sacrosanct and protected from disclosure. Today no one knows which fact is going to be unveiled tomorrow. Therefore this book is useful helpful for its readers to understand the importance of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Capturing Institutional Change

Capturing Institutional Change PDF Author: Himanshu Jha
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190991224
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Book Description
Institutions are norms that undergird organizations and are reflected in laws and practices. Over time, institutions take root and persist as they are path dependent and thus change resistant. Therefore, it is puzzling when institutions change. One such puzzle has been the enactment of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in India in 2005, which brought about institutional change by transforming the 'information regime'. Why did the government upend the norm of secrecy, which had historically been entrenched within the Indian State? This book uses archival material, internal government documents, and interviews to understand the why and how of institutional change. It demonstrates that the institutional change resulted from 'ideas' emerging gradually and incrementally, leading to a 'tipping point'. About the IDSA Series: This series interrogates the interplay between globalization, the state, and social forces in the making and un-making of institutions in South Asia. Why do institutions persist and change? Do we need to transcend materialism and dwell in ideas and culture as well to understand why institutions perform and fail? The first book in the Institutions and Development in South Asia series, this volume studies the historical institutionalism in the information regime in India by presenting an alternative narrative about the evolution of the RTI Act.

Right to Information and Good Governance

Right to Information and Good Governance PDF Author: Sairam Bhat
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789383363452
Category : Freedom of information
Languages : en
Pages : 629

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Book Description


RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT Tool In Strengthening Democracy In India

RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT Tool In Strengthening Democracy In India PDF Author: Dr. Punya Shailaja, Dr. P. Rengarajan, Dr. Vinod Kumar Cherukuri
Publisher: Nitya Publications
ISBN: 939069910X
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 259

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Book Description
The free flow of information is a must for a democratic society as it helps the society to grow and to retain a continuous debate and discussion among the people. No democratic government can survive without accountability and the basic postulate of accountability is that the people should have information about the functioning of the government. Gone are the days when public dealings were kept in strict secret, a practice which often led to corruption, misuse and abuse of statutory and administrative power. Freedom of information brings openness in the administration which helps to promote transparency in state affairs, keep the government more accountable and ultimately reduce corruption. Disclosure of information in regard to the functioning of the government must be the rule and secrecy an exception.

The Right to Information Act 2005

The Right to Information Act 2005 PDF Author: Sudhir Naib
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199088225
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
The Indian state till recently denied information about its functioning and decision-making to its citizens, ironically, using laws made during the colonial period. Apart from being an anomaly in a democratic set-up, it created an adverse impact on the quality of governance, accountability, and transparency. It was only in 2005, after a prolonged freedom of information movement, that this situation was finally rectified. The government enacted the landmark Right to Information Act 2005, and gave to all its citizens the right to access information held by or under the control of public authorities. This Handbook is meant to serve as a practical guide to the implementation of the Act. The book begins by locating the Act in the context of a global movement for freedom of information (FOI), and discusses the efforts made by international bodies for adoption of FOI. It also presents a detailed comparative study of FOI in five countries—the US, the UK, Canada, South Africa, and India. In subsequent chapters, the book adopting a step-by-step approach, discusses the provisions of the Right to Information Act, how citizens should make use of the right to information, the comprehensive guidelines for public authorities and their obligations under the Act, which includes relevant central information commission decisions, the role of the public information officers (PIO), who are to be appointed as per the provisions in the Act by all public authorities, the exemptions allowed under the Act, and, finally, the appellate authorities to whom a citizen can appeal in case of unsatisfactory response by the PIO.

Global Trends on the Right to Information

Global Trends on the Right to Information PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 164

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Book Description