An active Information Commission is vital to democracy

The article argues that the Right to Information (RTI) is a vital democratic instrument that empowers citizens to hold public authorities accountable, moving beyond simple transparency to enable the scrutiny of arbitrary decisions and legal compliance. By examining cases in India and Sri Lanka, it demonstrates how RTI allows individuals to verify if judicial directives are implemented and to secure fair hearings in disciplinary matters, thereby transforming suspicion into evidence-based challenges against administrative failures. However, the effectiveness of RTI is severely compromised by institutional delays and bureaucratic obstruction. The narratives highlight that even when laws exist, prolonged processing times and a lack of clear information from government bodies can render the right meaningless, especially for those seeking immediate remedies for injustices. This underscores that the substantive value of open data lies not just in its existence, but in its timely accessibility and the ability to use it to enforce legal obligations. For Bangladesh, this context is critical because the RTI framework is currently paralyzed by a lack of information commissioners for over two years. The authors emphasize that restoring this enforcement mechanism is essential for the law to function, as citizens need a functional body to adjudicate complaints and compel disclosure. Without this, the government cannot fulfill its obligation to facilitate informed public participation, which is fundamental to sustaining a democracy that goes beyond mere electoral processes.

Source: thedailystar.net
Published on 2026-10-18

An active Information Commission is vital to democracy

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