According to the definitions given under Section 2 (f) of the Act, 2005, information means any material in the form stored in records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advice, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data materials stored in any electronic form and information related to any private body that can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force. As per the definition public authority is the authority or body or institution established under constitution, or any law enacted by the parliament, or my State Legislature, or body constituted by notification of appropriate government, or non-government institution financed and controlled by the appropriate government.
According to Section 2(j) of the Act, right to information means right to access the information which is held by the public authority and also includes to
- inspection of work, documents, records;
- take notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records;
- take certified samples of material
- obtain information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts which is stored in a computer or in any other device
Section 4 of the Act imposed certain obligations on Public Authority is conferred under the Act after obtaining the information as defined in the Act, which include,
- to maintain all its records and ensure that all records that are appropriate to be computerized within reasonable time
- to publish within one hundred and twenty days from the enactment of this Act,—
- to take steps to provide as much information suo motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communications,
- to disseminate in such form and manner which is easily accessible to the public in cost effective methods and also in local language, and to be easily accessible in electronic format with the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer.
Article 19 (1)(a) of Indian Constitution and Right to Information Act, 2005
Adv. Anitha Gutti