[Continuation - Challenges to RTI]

Challenges to RTI: Colonial legacy of secrecy is a systemic resistance to RTI. Eg: Official Secrets Act. Political targeting of RTI activists => death of 86 RTI activists since 1999 (Pew survey). Questions on the autonomy of Chief Information Commission => RTI Amendment Act 2019 => appointment of CIC with executive. UC lacks suo-moto powers of investigation. Exemptions => political parties outside the purview of RTI. Eg: PM CARES => outside the purview of RTI.

Measures for improvement to RTI: Close the gap between exemptions of certain bodies from RTI purview => expansive coverage. Revoking the oath of secrecy and Official Secrets Act to ensure perception of top-down governance. Improving awareness of civil society to effectively utilise RTI. Strengthening of legal framework like RTI, whistleblower protection Act. Ensuring the autonomy, efficiency and independence of CIC. Here, RTI is the tool for having away from darkness of misinformation towards the dawn of transparency.