Role of RTI in Reforming the Indian Administration

Abstract

Right to information is an effective device to ignite and excel administrative reforms in a developing country where bureaucratic evils prevail at large. So as to achieve the goals of good governance and development administration, the administrative development and its overhauling are the prerequisite. Efficient and effective institutions are the key to rapid economic and social development and to translate promises into actionable programmes with the least possible cost. The RT/ Act, 2005 is not only empowering the citizens but ensuring that administrative institutions and functionaries discharge their duties in the desired manner. It is RT/ through which some basic administrative changes like record keeping, timeboundness, transparency, politeness and accountability are visible in the long-sicked Indian administration.''There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come." -VICTOR HUGO GREATER THAN the tread of mighty armies has been an idea, but the present era of extensive scientific development and liberalisation proves that 'information' is the zeitgeist of the neo generation. The first decade of new millennium has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the sphere of administration, technology, economy, societies and mankind as well. Third President of USA Thomas Jefferson remarked rightly-"We must realise seriously that information is the currency of the democracy . ... whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government."Obviously, it is clear that democratic values and tradition can only be saved through the common man's accessibility to that infonnation, which is kept by bureaucracy and has been labled as 'secret'. If we want to change the traditional image and face of bureaucracy, then we must disclose the information to the public as and when asked for, because monopoly of ROLE OF RTI IN REFORMING THE INDIAN ADMINISTRATION 661 S.K. KATARIAbureaucracy or public servants over information and data is the main source of their coercive power. Generally, such type of power leads to "Natural Anarchy". So as to make Indian public administrative system more responsive, accountable, transparent and effective it needs overhauling of all its structures, processes and mindset of civil servants. It is generally quoted that administrative reforms in India seem like second freedom movement. S.L. Goel opined, "Right to information would provide open surgery to administration and make efforts to improve the health of the administrative system. Till now these were causing road blocks for development. If implemented in right earnest, RTI Act would optimise the use of resources. RTI and administrative reforms are two sides of the same coin". 1 In his address to the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, Rajendra Prasad had observed, "Whatever the constitution may or may not provide, the welfare of the country will depend upon the way in which the country is administered. That will depend upon the men, who administer it. If the people, who are elected, are capable and m...

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