[icernet] The Right to Information - A Cleansing Effect

[Arul Selvan]

The fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression is meaningless 
without authentic requisite information about issues and subjects on 
which opinions are to be formed and expressed. The right to information 
is, therefore, implicit in the right to free speech and is as much 
fundamental. Parliament has now enabled the citizens to exercise their 
fundamental right of free speech and information.

Therefore, there are reasons to cheer the passage of the much awaited 
Freedom of Information Bill  2002, an important landmark in the history 
of Indian democracy. The Bill grants statutory right to the citizens to 
access information from the Government. The legislation is in accord 
with both Article 19 of the Constitution as well as Article 19 of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Source:
http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2003/fjan2003/f160120031.html