The Andhra Pradesh Information Commission proudly commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Right to Information (RTI) Act-2005 this past Friday, October 10, 2025. This significant milestone highlighted the Act’s indispensable role in fostering transparency, ensuring accountability, and profoundly empowering the state’s citizens.
During the celebratory event, former High Court Judge Justice Telaprolu Rajani delivered a compelling address, underscoring how the RTI Act has profoundly bolstered democratic principles by giving citizens the power to hold their government to account. She further clarified that while the RTI isn’t explicitly named a Fundamental Right in the Constitution, various Supreme Court rulings have consistently recognized it as a vital extension of the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, as enshrined in Article 19.
State Information Commissioner P. Samuel Jonathan took the opportunity to stress the urgent need to boost the Commission’s operational efficiency and independence. He advocated for faster resolution of cases and fair, respectful treatment for both those seeking information (appellants) and the public authorities providing it. Jonathan also called upon the government to promptly fill critical vacancies, such as Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Law Secretary, and Accounts Officer, which are essential for the Commission’s uninterrupted and effective operation.
Commissioner Ch. Suneel provided an insightful overview of the extensive awareness campaigns conducted, noting that over 900 RTI programs had successfully engaged more than one lakh citizens. Complementing this, former Commissioner K. Chenna Reddy proposed several strategies aimed at accelerating the clearance of the Commission’s backlog of pending cases. The event itself commenced with a solemn reading of the RTI preamble, followed by a celebratory cake-cutting ceremony, symbolizing two decades of this transformative legislation.