The BJP Government and the RTI Act: A Battle for Transparency

The Right to Information (RTI) Act is a significant legislative measure that empowers citizens to demand and access information from the government. India is not the first country to implement such a law; many developed nations have long recognized the importance of transparency and accountability. For instance, the United States has had its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in place since 1966. However, in India, the efficacy of the RTI Act has often been questioned, especially under the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

RTI Act in India: A Limited Tool

In the Indian context, making a request under the RTI Act does not automatically guarantee transparency. Often, the government decides what information to disclose based on its own criteria. If they refuse to give any information, citing reasons such as sensitivity to national interests, citizens have limited recourse. This effectively compromises the original intention of the RTI Act to ensure transparency and accountability.

RTI in the United States: A Snapshot

Contrastingly, the RTI Act in the United States, known as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), operates quite differently. No president can personally sift through voluminous archives and decide what is sensitive and what is not. This task is far beyond the capacity of a single individual. Moreover, the president, like other politicians, is subject to the principle of 'need to know.'

For instance, many presidents, including Bill Clinton, were unaware of details about sensitive areas such as Area 51. American presidents and politicians often seek the protection of plausible deniability, meaning they avoid knowing too much to prevent any future lies or misstatements.

Declassification and Bureaucracy

No president can unilaterally order the declassification of information. Such tasks are carried out by the relevant agencies, such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or the Department of Defense. These agencies will follow declassification protocols but do so based on their own rules. Redacting sensitive information is a common practice, where important details are blacked out to protect national interests. Consequently, even a newly declassified document may not provide the level of information the public seeks.

What remains constant is the bureaucracy. Its role is to protect and safeguard all aspects related to the state. In essence, a president orders, but the bureaucrat decides, aligning the implementation of policy with operational guidelines.

BJP Government and the RTI Act

The BJP government has further impaired the RTI Act by diluting its provisions and making the Information Commissioner subservient to the incumbent government. This move ensures that the Information Commissioner follows government directives rather than taking an independent stance in providing information to citizens.

This action is driven by the government's desire for compliance rather than promoting transparency and accountability. The government seeks to control the flow of information rather than allowing the public to access it freely, undermining the core principles of the RTI Act.

Conclusion

While the RTI Act was designed to empower citizens and promote transparency, the current implementation has seen numerous limitations, especially under the BJP government. The need for reform is clear, and it emphasizes the importance of upholding the principles of information rights and public interest.