PUBLIC AUTHORITIES AND OTHER AUTHORITIES UNDER THE RTI ACT, INDIA: SCOPE, INTERPRETATION, AND CHALLENGES

AUTHOR – M AKSHAYAA*, TEJASWINI S*, DR. SAJI SIVAN S**,

* STUDENTS AT VIT SCHOOL OF LAW, CHENNAI

** PROFESSOR AT VIT SCHOOL OF LAW, CHENNAI

BEST CITATION – M AKSHAYAA, TEJASWINI S, DR. SAJI SIVAN S, PUBLIC AUTHORITIES AND OTHER AUTHORITIES UNDER THE RTI ACT, INDIA: SCOPE, INTERPRETATION, AND CHALLENGES, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (1) OF 2025, PG. 1294-1306, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, is a significant law in India that promotes transparency and accountability in governance. A key aspect of the Act is the definition of public authorities, which are required to provide information to citizens. This paper explores the scope of public authorities under the RTI Act, including government bodies, institutions funded by the government, and other authorities performing public functions. It also examines how courts have interpreted the term other authorities to include private entities in certain cases. The paper further discusses the challenges in implementing RTI, such as resistance from organizations, lack of clarity in definitions, and exemptions under the law. Key case laws and decisions by the Central and State Information Commissions are analyzed to understand how the RTI Act has evolved over time. Finally, recommendations are provided to improve transparency and ensure better compliance with the Act. This study aims to highlight the importance of access to information in a democracy and how the RTI Act empowers citizens to hold public authorities accountable.

Keywords: Public authorities, Other Authorities, Transparency, Accountability, Exemptions & Citizen empowerment.