Law et al. News; Gauhati ; 12 March 2011,
Former Chief Justice of India Justice JS Verma today said that ‘right to information’ is an integral part of the Constitution. The right to information is already given in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution as a fundamental right, he said.
The Act has of course made the process to obtain information easier, commented the former CJI. Elaborating on the point he said that the Act provides relief to the information seeker instead of having to approach the court with a writ petition.
Justice Verma was speaking at the 3rd national RTI convention of the National Campaign for the People’s Right to Information (NCPRI) being hosted in Shillong by the Meghalaya Right to Information Movement (MRTIM).
Making a strong case against withholding file noting Justice Verma said that there is no reasonable basis to not divulge file noting. Justice Verma reminded those assembled about the Preamble of the Constitution and added that people are now equipped to discharge their participatory role.
Others present include Governor of Meghalaya RS Mooshahary and former Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh as well as prominent activist Aruna Roy
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