*RTI ACT A KEY INSTRUMENT FOR ENSURING TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE: AMAN ARORA*
*“RTI AND GOOD GOVERNANCE” BOOK RELEASED TO MARK 21 YEARS OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005*
The Punjab State Information Commission (PSIC) today organised a special event at the UT State Guest House, Chandigarh to celebrate Right to Information Day, marking 21 years of the implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Act is a landmark legislation that has further strengthened transparency, accountability and citizen empowerment in democratic governance.
On this occasion the book titled “RTI and Good Governance”, authored by Punjab State Information Commissioner Harpreet Sandhu, was released under the patronage of Punjab Chief Information Commissioner Inderpal Singh Dhanna. The book is dedicated to highlighting the significance of the Right to Information framework and its role in promoting transparent, accountable and responsible administration. The publication aims to raise public awareness about the objectives and provisions of the RTI Act, its evolution over the past 21 years and emerging dimensions of information governance in the context of contemporary legal and administrative developments.
Addressing the gathering, Punjab Good Governance and Information Technology Minister Aman Arora said that the Right to Information Act, 2005, had empowered ordinary citizens to secure their rights while ensuring transparency and accountability in government functioning. He said that in keeping with the spirit of the Constitution, the government must be of the people, by the people and for the people. This objective can be achieved only when public institutions function transparently and remain accountable to citizens. He added that the state government was further strengthening good governance through digital platforms by ensuring time-bound delivery of services and fixing accountability for delays.
The state-level RTI Day event was attended by Punjab Chief Information Commissioner Inderpal Singh Dhanna; State Information Commissioners Sandeep Dhaliwal, Varinderjit Singh Billing, Harpreet Sandhu, Dr. Bhupinder Singh Bath and Pooja Gupta; and former Punjab Chief Information Commissioners Rajan Kashyap, IAS (Retd.), Ramesh Inder Singh, IAS (Retd.), S.S. Channy, IAS (Retd.) and Justice Harnaresh Singh Gill. The gathering also included Chandigarh DGP Sagarpreet Singh Hooda, a delegation from the Western Command led by Colonel Jagdeep Sandhu, senior police and civil administration officers of the Punjab Government, former High Court judges and Public Information Officers (PIOs) from across Punjab.
Addressing the gathering, Rajan Kashyap, the founding Chief Information Commissioner of Punjab, shared his recollections of the early days of the implementation of the RTI Act. Former Chief Information Commissioners Ramesh Inder Singh and S.S. Channy also shared their views on the occasion.
The book "RTI and Good Governance” carries special messages from Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Punjab Governor and Administrator of UT Chandigarh Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Information Commissioner of India Raj Kumar Goyal, IAS (Retd.). Their messages highlight the constitutional and democratic significance of the publication, which has also received endorsements from Wajahat Habibullah, India’s first Chief Information Commissioner and Rajan Kashyap, Punjab’s first Chief Information Commissioner.
Authored by Punjab State Information Commissioner Harpreet Sandhu under the patronage of the Punjab State Information Commission, the book reiterates the commitment to enhancing public awareness, promoting the responsible implementation of the RTI framework and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability in public institutions. The event provided an important opportunity to review the achievements of the past 21 years while reaffirming the continuing need for effective implementation of the Act in the larger public interest.
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