OPTIONAL-I: RIGHT TO INFORMATION

Unit 1

Right to Information before Right to Information Act, 2005; Significance in democracy; Constitutional basis; Supreme Court on right to information.

• Indian Constitution and Human Rights: Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
• Right to Information Act, 2005

Unit 2

RTI Act- definitions; Right to information and obligations of public authorities.

• Right to Information Act, 2005

Unit 3

Central information commission; State information commission; Powers and functions of information commissions; Appeals and penalties.

• Right to Information Act, 2005

Unit 4

Other related laws - The Official Secrets Act, 1923; The Public Records Act, 1993; The Public Records Rules, 1997; The Freedom of Information Act, 2002; The Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952; The Commission of Inquiry (Central) Rules, 1972.

Unit 5

Best practices- A study of decisions rendered by state commissions and central Commission in the following areas of – Police, Revenue, PWD, Irrigation, Secretariat, BSNL, Posts and Telegraphs, Scheduled Banks, CPWD, Income Tax Department, Central Excise Department, Local Authorities.