20 yrs of RTI Act marred by vacancies, delays

WITH the Right to Information Act, 2005, completing 20 years next month, it should have been a moment of celebration for a law that democratised governance by arming citizens with the power to demand accountability. Instead, the RTI regime stands weakened. It is plagued by vacancies, delays and institutional neglect. The Central Information Commission (CIC), the apex body meant to enforce the law, is headless for the seventh time in 11 years. Thousands of appeals and complaints languish in the backlog and appointments of commissioners remain mired in systemic delays. The RTI Act promises citizens information within 30 days — or within 48 hours if life or liberty is at stake — yet today many applicants wait over a year for hearings, making a mockery of the law’s intent.