In India, the right to information is treated by the Supreme Court as:

The Supreme Court has held that the right to information is a part of the Fundamental Right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a), and also of the right to life under Article 21.

How the courts developed the right:

In the State of U.P. v. Raj Narain case (1975), the Court said that people have a right to know every public act done by public functionaries.

In the S.P. Gupta case (1981), the Court said that open government is the new democratic culture and that disclosure should be the rule and secrecy the exception.

In later cases, the Court held that voters have a right to know the criminal record, assets and educational qualifications of candidates.

Why information is linked to free speech:

• A citizen cannot form opinions or express views meaningfully without access to information.
• Free flow of information is essential for democracy and for holding governments accountable.

The Right to Information Act, 2005:

• Parliament passed the RTI Act, 2005 to give a practical way of using this right.
• Any citizen can request information from a public authority by paying a small fee.
• Public authorities must reply within 30 days, or within 48 hours if the life or liberty of a person is involved.
• Officers called Public Information Officers are appointed in every public authority.

Exemptions:

Certain information is exempt, such as information affecting the sovereignty and security of India, cabinet papers and personal information with no public interest.

Origin of the movement:

• The RTI movement grew out of the work of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan in Rajasthan in the 1990s.
• Tamil Nadu and Goa were among the first states to pass their own information laws.

Why not the other options?

• ✗It is more than a statutory right because courts have read it into Part III.
• ✗It is not a Directive Principle or a Fundamental Duty.