It has taken India 77 years to transition from an opaque system of governance, legitimised by the colonial Official Secrets Act, to one where citizens can demand the right to information. The recent enactment of the Freedom of Information Act 2002 marks a significant shift for Indian democracy, for the greater the access of citizens to information, the greater the responsiveness of government to community needs.
In recent years, there has been an almost unstoppable global trend towards recognition of the right to information by countries, intergovernmental organisations, civil society and the people. The right to information has been recognised as a fundamental human right, which upholds the inherent dignity of all human beings. The right to information forms the crucial underpinning of participatory democracy - it is essential to ensure accountability and good governance.
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