New Delhi, October 12: On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hailed it as a "revolutionary" piece of legislation passed under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Ramesh emphasized the landmark significance of the RTI Act, which he credited as a key achievement of the UPA administration.

Reflecting on the historic development, Ramesh stated, "Exactly 20 years ago today, in 2005, the Right to Information Act was passed. This, in my view, was a transformative and revolutionary legislation. Under the leadership of the Congress-led UPA, this Act not only brought a change but also marked the beginning of a new era."

He went on to highlight that the UPA government had introduced several other landmark laws between 2004 and 2014. "In addition to the RTI Act, the UPA passed numerous other groundbreaking laws, including the Rural Employment Act, better known as MGNREGA, the Right to Education Act, the Food Security Act, and the Land Acquisition Act of 2013," Ramesh added. These laws, he noted, played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s social and economic landscape.

Ramesh further emphasized the transformative decade ushered in by the RTI Act. "The RTI Act was a catalyst for change, leading to the introduction of six other transformative laws. Among these were the MGNREGA, the Right to Education Act of 2009, the Food Security Act, and the new Land Acquisition Act, both passed in 2013," he said.

The Congress leader also voiced concerns over the recently introduced Personal Data Protection Act, which he argued could undermine the power of the RTI Act. "The Personal Data Protection Act 2023 threatens to overshadow the RTI Act, which empowers ordinary citizens to access information. The RTI Act allows citizens to obtain information that an MP or an MLA holds, ensuring transparency and accountability," he noted.

The Right to Information Act, passed on October 12, 2005, gives citizens the right to request information from public authorities, promoting transparency and accountability in government functioning. Under the Act, government bodies are mandated to respond to requests within 30 days and are also required to proactively disclose certain information.

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