RTI act, 2005:

    Full form of RTI is Right To Information generally called RTI act, 2005

RTI is an act passed and enacted on 12 October 2005 to bring transparency in the governance and reduce corruption acts. This act empowers all citizens to seek information from any central/state government office.

RTI can be applied by writing to public information officer (PIO) of concerned department. RTI generally costs minimal fee of 10 rs to apply and page charges if information has claimed in physical copies. RTI can also be applied online on https://rtionline.gov.in

Let’s discuss more about RTI by answering some of most common questions

What is RTI?

RTI is an act by which you can claim any information from any of central or state government office without stating any reason. This act was mainly brought to reduce corruption and to bring transparency in the system. This enables all citizens to use their right to know what their government is up to? or what all are the schemes it is working on.

Generally the RTI is answered within 30 days of application

Who can apply?

Any common person can apply to seek any information by using RTI act the only criteria is that he should be citizen of the country. It is so easy and people friendly that any illiterate person also can reach out to public information officer (PIO) any office and get information he wanted as PIO is obliged to help that person to write it for that person.

What information can you seek from RTI?

Any information related to central or state government office can be sought by this privilege. As this act is brought to enact to transparency in the system information regarding to working of any public office, information about any person related to any public office including ministers and judges can be asked by making use of this right.

  RTI act has helped to revealed so many huge scams of the country which include the Indian telecom scam aka 2G scam, the Adarsh housing society scam, and even commonwealth games scam. It has also revealed many more astonishing facts too. The questions such as what does prime minister  Narendra Modi eats? What is the cost of building PM's website? What does he eats? How much prime minister Modi's specific suit costs? etc are few examples for that.

How can you file a RTI?

There are mainly two ways to apply for RTI, those are either by reaching out to office directly (via post or in person) or online application. The following points might be helpful if you are going to apply RTI,

•      To apply the application directly to office of concern you have to address the application to public information officer (PIO) of that particular office.
•     There is no particular format to follow for writing any RTI application but currently the word count has been restricted to 3000 words.
•     One thing to keep in mind is that be specific about the information, which you are seeking and mainly there is no need to specify any reasons while asking.
•     It is essential to mention your name and address in the application, mode of info required and info of electronic ways (like mail id mobile number).

For online RTI application,

You can also apply RTI online for that you just have to go to the online portal (link is provided below), fill up the little form out there and submit. The payment process and other things are very smooth and user friendly too.

    link and screenshot of the page is provided below.

   click  HERE to apply RTI online.

For more information on RTI act you can visit the following sites

https://rti.gov.in/

https://onlinerti.com/about-rti

comment down your opinions and queries if you have any.

6 Freedoms provided by our constitution

Article 12 to 35(part III) of the COI (Constitution Of India) ensures fundamental rights of citizen of India (adopted from USAs constitution). The right to freedom is one six fundamental rights and is explained spanning article 19-22.

                                

 

There are mainly 6 fundamental rights mentioned in article 19 of COI.

Those are,

#top

sl.no.	freedom
1	Freedom of speech and expression
2	Freedom to assemble peaceably and without arms
3	Freedom to form associations or unions or co-operative societies
4	Freedom to move freely throughout the territory of India
5	Freedom to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India
6	Freedom to practice any profession

Lets briefly see what does each of them stands for and as all laws it will also have certain restrictions so let’s discuss about that too,

•     Freedom of speech and expression:

This right to freedom will ensure your freedom to express your opinion either via speech, writing, printing or via any other way of expression. This will generally have restrictions to mention morality, internal peace, severity and integrity of nation. It can also be restricted to maintain healthy foreign relationships. Basically your speech should not have any morally conflicting or anti social elements which could potentially harm the harmony.

•      Freedom to assemble peaceably and without arms:

This ensures your right to assemble at any public land peacefully without possession any arms. It includes the right to hold public meetings, demonstrations and take out processions. The main flaw to this right to freedom is its potential to cause violence or disturb public peace by so many presumptions made by citizens. We should also remember the right to strike does not come under this section of COI. Personal can also be restricted to enjoy this freedom if once action causes harm to severity and integrity of the country and traffic maintenance of area of conduct is also a considerable factor.

•        Freedom to form associations or unions or co-operative societies:

This freedom provision ensures to form or join associations or co-operative societies. The association includes political parties too. This also can be restricted on the basis of severity and integrity of nation. The right to form association will not include right to call strike or bundhs (declaration of lock outs).

•       Freedom to move freely throughout the territory of India:

As name indicates this section ensures your right to move across the country within the territories. The freedom of movement has been brought to boost the oneness of the country (as at the time of independence our nation was just a collection of provinces). This includes main so many restrictions which are little bit unclear till now. The mainly restrictions to move are held to preserve certain tribes and their culture. Some of the part of Andaman and Nikobar islands is suitable examples here. More over one with behavioral flaws and prostitutes are restricted for morality reasons. Mumbai high court had also restricted movement of HIV positive personal for public health.

•      Freedom to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India:

Similar to freedom to move freedom to reside and settle at any part of the country too is a freedom bought to promote oneness of the country. This ensures you reside or settle at any place permanently or temporarily at any place within the territory of the country. The State can impose reasonable restrictions on the exercise of these right on two grounds, namely, the interest of general public and the protection of interests of any scheduled tribes. This is to preserve the culture language and other uniqueness of tribes.

By this you can clearly conclude that freedom of movement and freedom to reside are on same page to extent.

•         Freedom to practice any profession:

This section of constitution ensures you to practice any profession or trade with proper legalities, license and qualifications. Literally this so many legal restrictions but most of them are on paper. Main restrictions are on conducting immoral and threatening trades like human trafficking for example.

    

This concludes all six freedoms mentioned in constitution of India. To read original copy of constitution of India and find out what is written in there click here.

Comment down any of your queries or opinions below.

Top