Delhi HC warns against abuse of Right to Information Act

The Delhi High Court highlights how the misuse of the Right to Information Act causes paralysis and fear among government officials, undermining its goal of accountability. This judicial concern underscores the tension between transparency rights and administrative efficiency, a critical dynamic in open data governance. Despite acknowledging abuse, the court ruled that citizens' rights to seek information cannot be extinguished or penalized, even for repetitive requests. This decision preserves the fundamental accessibility of public records, ensuring that legitimate open data access remains uncompromised by bureaucratic restrictions. Consequently, the ruling reinforces the principle that while process misuse should be discouraged, the core mandate of information disclosure must prevail. For open data advocates, this validates the enduring necessity of unrestricted public access to government information, balancing efficiency with the fundamental right to know.

Source: prokerala.com
Published on 2023-12-21