Guest Lecture on Right to Information

Guest Lecture on Right to Information Act

The Department of Accounting and Taxation organized a guest lecture on “Right To Information” on 28^TH September, 2012 in the Audio Visual Hall of The IIS University. The guest speaker, Dr. Rupa Manglani, said that “Right To Information”  act empowers us to have access to information that is available with the public authorities. It promotes transparency unlike the secrecy Act of 1923.

 She gave examples of countries like Japan, who after more than half a decade of Hiroshima attack is the most economically developed country around the world, just because of their policy of sharing information  relating to profits and earnings of their companies. This has made their companies and factories rule the world with its electronics and automobiles. Countries like Sweden (who was the first to enact RTI in 1766), America, Australia, and Canada, to name a few, are the most developed nations. On the other hand, countries like Pakistan are underdeveloped because they lack transparency.

Dr. Rupa also informed the students about how the 1982 Supreme Court ruling made it mandatory for public authorities to share information and hiding of information should be avoided as much as possible.The Right to information is the fundamental rights of the citizens of India with age no bar. An individual can take information from public authorities and/or NGO’s. The officers of it are required to give in information within a period not exceeding 30days or there are penalties and fines on the officers concerned in case they are found guilty.The students of The IIS University enjoyed the session.