Jayantilal Mistri

 THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

In R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 11826 of 2020, 

SWATI RAJIV GOSWAMI 

Versus

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, AHMEDABAD, the 

HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BIREN VAISHNAV

held as 

8 At the cost of reiteration, the very preamble of the Act captures the importance of the democratic right of an informed citizenry to the transparency in the functioning of the government. As held in the case of Jayantilal Mistri (supra), what is observed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court is quoted as under:

“Because an informed citizen has the capacity to reasoned action and also to evaluate the actions of the legislature and executives, which is very important in a participative democracy and this will serve the nation’s interest better which as stated above also includes its economic interests.

Recognizing the significance of this tool it has not only been made one of the fundamental rights under Article 19 of the Constitution also a Central Act has been brought into effect on 12th October 2005 as the Right to Information Act, 2005...” The ideal of ‘Government by the people’ makes it necessary that people have access to information on matters of public concern. The free flow of information about affairs of Government paves way for debate in public policy and fosters accountability in Government. It creates a condition for ‘open governance’ which is a foundation of democracy.”