“Right to Information Act” – a tool for good governance through ICT

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the evolution of Freedom of Information/Right to Information from an international perspective and analyse it as an indispensable tool for good governance through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) with special reference to India.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the worldwide occurrence of Right to Information with reference to International Covenants, the genesis of RTI Act in India and the use of ICT in India as a tool for empowering the citizen's.

Findings

The study demonstrates that RTI has far reaching impact and it clearly contributes to a better and informed citizenry however the use of ICT in India can further facilitate the access of such records.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses on the genesis of RTI from an international perspective but the use of ICT for further facilitating the use of RTI is limited to Indian context.

Practical implications

The paper will outline a detailed analysis on the present usage of ICT and the initiatives taken for facilitating information dissemination and further provide suggestions for the benefit of civil society towards good governance.

Originality/value

The study is the first to address the issue of the implementation of right to information act through the use of ICT and also suggests methodology for its further improvement. Also, the study comprehends the genesis of RTI both from the international as well as Indian perspective.

Citation

Singh, S. and Karn, B. (2012), "“Right to Information Act” – a tool for good governance through ICT", Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, Vol. 10 No. 4, pp. 273-287. https://doi.org/10.1108/14779961211285890