On June 15, 2025, India marks the 20th anniversary of one of its most transformative legislations—The Right to Information (RTI) Act. Enacted in 2005, the RTI Act was a beacon of hope for transparency, accountability, and participatory democracy. It empowered every Indian citizen with a simple yet revolutionary tool: the right to seek information from public authorities. Yet, two decades later, the journey of the RTI Act is as much a story of courage and breakthroughs as it is of betrayal and systemic neglect.
The Early Challenges and the File Noting Controversy
Soon after its enactment, the RTI Act faced its first major challenge. In July 2006, the Union Cabinet attempted to dilute the Act by excluding "file notings"—the comments and decisions made by government officers on official files—from its purview. This move was widely condemned by transparency activists. Veteran journalist late Prakash Kardaley, Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, and I (Vijay Kumbhar) worked in close coordination to mount resistance. Anna Hazare launched a fast unto death in Alandi on August 9, 2006, and ended it ten days later when the government withdrew the proposed amendment. This episode not only showcased the strength of civil society but also laid the foundation for future collaborations—albeit uneasy—among leading RTI activists.
The 2007 Pune Convention: A Forgotten Milestone
The most significant yet least remembered moment in the RTI movement’s history occurred on May 12–13, 2007, when my organization, Surajya Sangharsh Samiti, organized the first national convention of RTI activists in Pune. The convention brought together 137 activists from 27 states, including prominent figures like Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Aruna Roy, Medha Patkar, Nikhil Dey, Manish Sisodia, and Prashant Bhushan.
This was a rare moment of unity in an otherwise fragmented movement. Although all these individuals were stalwarts in their own right, their ideological and strategic differences kept them from working together thereafter. Despite these differences, three detailed resolutions were passed at the convention: one urging the government to adopt crucial reforms, another demanding accountability from the Central and State Information Commissions, and a third focusing on the proactive disclosure provisions under Section 4 of the RTI Act.
Shockingly, 20 years later, none of these resolutions have been implemented.
What the Resolutions Demanded
The resolutions were practical, well-reasoned, and aimed at strengthening the RTI regime:
Eliminate unnecessary procedural barriers like mandatory forms and appeal fees.
Ensure monthly reporting and audits by public authorities.
Penalize officers for non-compliance or harassment of RTI applicants.
Mandate the proactive disclosure of information as per Section 4.
Safeguard RTI users under a comprehensive whistleblower protection law.
Video-record all Information Commission hearings and prohibit conflicts of interest among Commissioners.
Make RTI a part of school and college curriculums to foster civic engagement.
If implemented, these measures would have made the RTI framework more citizen-centric, transparent, and accountable.
Two Decades On: Successes Shadowed by Setbacks
In the last 20 years, RTI has played a vital role in exposing scams, corruption, and inefficiencies in governance. It has empowered citizens, journalists, and whistleblowers. However, the price has been steep: more than 100 RTI activists have lost their lives, and countless others have been harassed, attacked, or silenced.
The government, instead of bolstering the act, has often tried to weaken it. Amendments to dilute the autonomy of Information Commissions, non-compliance with Commission orders, and increasing hostility towards transparency are telling signs of the state’s intent.
RTI implementation remains dismal across several states, with huge backlogs, insufficient staffing in Information Commissions, and a general reluctance by public authorities to disclose information. Section 4, which was envisioned as a proactive tool to reduce the burden of individual applications, is perhaps the most ignored section of the Act.
The Path Forward: A New Strategy for Revival
As India witnesses political shifts and generational changes, this is a pivotal moment to revive and reinvigorate the RTI movement. The original goals of the 2007 convention are still relevant—and urgent. We need:
1. A national RTI strategy uniting activists, legal experts, and citizen groups.
2. A review and implementation plan for the 2007 resolutions.
3. Stronger pressure on governments and political parties to commit to transparency.
4. Public demand for implementation of pending reforms, including whistleblower protection.
5 The government must recognize that transparency is not a threat to governance but its backbone. Citizens must reassert their right to know as a non-negotiable pillar of democracy.
The RTI Act was not a gift from the government—it was won through relentless struggle. Two decades later, its survival and effectiveness depend once again on collective will and persistent advocacy. The torch has passed from the hands of the pioneers of 2007 to a new generation of citizens. Let us hope they will not let the flame die out.
