“This was the first in a series of transformative rights-based legislations between 2005 and 2013, including key laws on rural employment, tribal rights, education, food security, and land acquisition,” Ramesh added.
File Photo: IANS
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday sounded a note of caution over what he described as a systematic weakening of this landmark transparency law by the current government.
Addressing a press conference on the 20th anniversary of the full implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Ramesh said: “Exactly 20 years ago today, the historic RTI Act came into full effect, ushering in a new era of citizen empowerment and transparency.”
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“This was the first in a series of transformative rights-based legislations between 2005 and 2013, including key laws on rural employment, tribal rights, education, food security, and land acquisition,” Ramesh added.
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Highlighting the significance of RTI, he explained, “The purpose was to empower citizens and foster transparency at every level of administration. However, since May 2014, we have witnessed a deliberate and continuous effort to dilute these rights.”
Ramesh recalled the turning point in July 2019 when “significant amendments to the RTI Act were forcibly pushed through Parliament.” He added, “I opposed these amendments in the Rajya Sabha on July 25, 2019, and challenged them in the Supreme Court. Sadly, this petition remains pending even after six long years.”
Drawing attention to further setbacks, Ramesh pointed to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act passed in August 2023. “On March 23, 2025, I informed the concerned minister that this new law would make the RTI Act even more irrelevant,” he said.
Ramesh also expressed concern over the functioning of the Central Information Commission (CIC), the body responsible for implementing the RTI Act. “Currently, the CIC is operating with only two commissioners, while nine posts, including that of the Chief Information Commissioner, remain vacant,” he noted. “For the Modi government, RTI now stands for ‘Readiness To Intimidate’—a readiness to intimidate those seeking transparency.”
The RTI Act, enacted in 2005, has long been hailed as a cornerstone of democratic accountability in India, allowing citizens to access government information and hold public officials accountable. Yet, critics argue that recent legislative changes and vacancies in key positions have undermined the law’s effectiveness.
Ramesh’s remarks underscore growing apprehensions among opposition leaders and civil society about the erosion of transparency and accountability mechanisms in India’s governance.
As the nation reflects on two decades of RTI’s impact, voices like Jairam Ramesh’s highlight the urgent need to safeguard and revitalise this vital democratic tool.
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