FOREWORD

World has shrunk and has become more uniform than any one of use care to acknowledge. The dominant ideology has been acknowledged universally as the freedom of thought and speech and democratic way of governance which presupposes transparency and accountability.

Prodded by the international conventions and the desi versions of jan sunvais and jan andolans the GOI has come out with a radical and revolutionary piece of legislation which for the first time had contribution of the public at large from the moment ‘go’. The media and the public at large with the help of the networking afforded at the cost of click have involved themselves in the implementation of the act and the ground realities of day to day use of the act to correct the imbalance between the governing class and the governed. RTI has become the beacon of hope for the common man to get back the thread of his life into his hands from the all powerful state and its public authorities.

In police and FSL we deal with the lives and liberties of public and we are the first level use of state power both for good or bad. It is our endeavour to make our transition to a people friendly institution within the norms laid down in the act and the natural justice doctrine while protecting the interests of the innocent parties and within the restrictions placed by the courts and the stake holders in forensic science and criminal justice system.

This work shop is an effort to lay bare the act and the case law which is the first one of its kind in the official circles. We hope the deliberations will enhance our understanding of the details of working of the act and make us equipped to deal with various situations and challenges thrown at us by the public at large or interested citizens. I congratulate Sharada Avadhanam for the splendid effort put in bringing out the present volume as a reference ready reckoner.

Dr. C.N. Gopi Natha Reddy, IPS

ADDL DGP and Director , APPA.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE ON RTI for FSL

AIM: To describe the concept and purpose of Right to Information

Objectives:

At the end of the workshop the participants will be able :

- To explain the salient features of the Right to Information Act and their possible implications

- To describe the process of seeking and providing information

- To list exemptions prescribed in the Act

- To explain the procedure of appeals and penalties imposable by Information commissions

- To describe responsibilities of Public Authorities

- To explain the strategy for operationalizing Right to Information.

A BOOK ON

RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005 for FSLs

SHARADA AVADHANAM

I/C DD [FS]

AP POLICE ACADEMY