TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY: THE CONSTITUTIONAL UNDERPINNINGS OF INDIA’S RIGHT TO INFORMATION
AUTHOR – SUBIKSHA ANANTHARAJ, STUDENT AT THE TAMILNADU DR.AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI
BEST CITATION – SUBIKSHA ANANTHARAJ, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY: THE CONSTITUTIONAL UNDERPINNINGS OF INDIA’S RIGHT TO INFORMATION, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (10) OF 2025, PG. 981-990, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
ABSTRACT
The Right to Information Act of 2005 is a milestone in India’s democratic experience, revolutionizing the culture of administration from bureaucratic secrecy to one of open government and participatory democracy. Grounded in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, the Act roots the right of the citizen to know as a fundamental component of democratic accountability. The article critically examines the constitutional and jurisprudential foundations of the RTI in light of path-breaking judgments such as State of U.P. v. Raj Narain, S.P. Gupta v. Union of India, and People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India, which collectively established the doctrinal pillars for an effective regime of information. It also critiques the key provisions of the Act, judicial interpretations, and institutional arrangements highlighting its potential to curb corruption, enhance public accountability, and empower citizens to actively participate in the process of governance. At the same time, the study also addresses challenges such as bureaucratic resistance, procedural barriers, and institutional failures that limit the full enforcement of the Act. It also traces the imperative role of civil society in supporting the RTI edifice against erosion and generating public awareness. Lastly, the paper evaluates whether the Act has realized its transformative potential and argues that its abiding vibrancy depends upon persistent legal, administrative, and civic commitment to norms of open government.
Key words: Right to Information, Transparency, Accountability, Article 19(1)(a), RTI Act, Participatory Governance, Indian Constitution, Civil Administration.