PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CA

TOPIC: Right to Information as a tool for grievance redressal or a tool for

bringing transparency (case study, success stories,data from Indian
states.)

By:
Saumya Shukla 2024/1389
Paridhi Jesrani 2024/43

74 years ago, the people of India made a resolution to secure their liberty of thought and
expression through the Preamble to the Constitution.

The right to freedom of speech and expression, guaranteed by Article 19(1), encompasses the
full right to information as acknowledged by the Supreme Court. The Right to Information
Act, 2005 (“the Act”), has established the necessary practical regime for the right to
information.

Empowering citizens to participate in decision-making and challenge corrupt and arbitrary

actions at all levels, the right to information enables citizens to take charge. With access to
government records, citizens can assess whether the elected government is delivering the
expected results, transforming them from mere spectators to active participants in
governance.

The RTI Bill, passed by the Parliament of India on 15 June 2005, came into force on 12
October 2005. It is one of the most crucial acts that allows ordinary citizens to question the
government and its functioning. Citizens and media widely use it to expose corruption,
monitor government progress, and access expense-related information.

The primary objective of the Right to Information Act is to empower citizens, promote
transparency and accountability in government operations, combat corruption, and ensure the
functioning of democracy for the people. An informed citizen is better equipped to monitor
governance instruments and hold the government accountable to the governed. The Act is a
significant step in informing citizens about government activities.

All constitutional authorities, government-owned and controlled agencies, and organizations

substantially financed by the government fall under the purview of the act. It also mandates
public authorities of union or state governments to provide timely responses to citizens'
requests for information.
The act also imposes penalties if the authorities delay in responding to the citizen in the
stipulated time.

The Act gives the citizens of India the right to access:

information held by a public authority, information under the control of a public authority and
includes the right to:
• inspect work, documents, records;
• take notes, extracts or certified copies of documents
or records;
• take certified samples of material;
• obtain information in the form of diskettes, floppies,
tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode
or through printouts where such information is stored
in a computer or in any other device.

Salient features of Right to Information Act 2005:

● The RTI Act lets people look at government documents and ask for any public
information from the government.
● All government bodies, whether state, central or local, are liable to respond to an RTI
query. All government-owned organisations are also liable to provide information
under RTI Act.
● A Public Information Officer (PIO) will be designated to handle RTI queries. This
person accepts the request forms and gives the public the information they want.
● Assistant PIOs work in every district or divisional level and help people get
information.
● Every person who wants to get information under the RTI Act must fill out an
application in Hindi or English and send it in by email. If you can’t write it, PIOs will
assist in putting your oral request in writing.
● If the applicant is deaf, blind, or has disabilities, the public authority must offer
assistance and access to the documents sought.
 ● The applicant doesn’t need to explain why they want the information or give any
other personal information.
● The applicant can file a complaint against the PIO if he doesn’t give him the
information he needs on time.
● Any information that can be given to the legislative assembly must be given to any
applicant under the RTI Act.
● PIOs are liable to pay a fine of Rs. 250 per day for delay in not furnishing the required
information to an applicant.

Significance of the RTI Act:

● The RTI Act, 2005 empowers the citizen to question the secrecy and abuse of power
practised in governance.
● It is through the information commissions at the central and state levels that access to
such information is provided.
● RTI information can be regarded as a public good, for it is relevant to the interests of
citizens and is a crucial pillar for the functioning of a transparent and vibrant
democracy.
● Every year, around six million applications are filed under the RTI Act, making it the
most extensively used sunshine legislation globally.
● These applications seek information on a range of issues, from holding the
government accountable for the delivery of basic rights and entitlements to
questioning the highest offices of the country.
● Using the RTI Act, people have sought information that governments would not like
to reveal as it may expose corruption, human rights violations, and wrongdoings by
the state.
● The access to information about policies, decisions and actions of the government that
affect the lives of citizens is an instrument to ensure accountability.
● The Supreme Court has, in several judgments, held that the RTI is a fundamental right
flowing from Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantee to citizens the
freedom of speech and expression and the right to life, respectively.

Success stories:
1. Adarsh Society Scam:
The applications filed by RTI activists like Yogacharya Anandji and Simpreet Singh in 2008
were instrumental in bringing to light links between politicians and military officials, among
others. The 31-storey building, which had permission for six floors only, was originally
meant to house war widows and veterans. Instead, the flats went to several politicians,
bureaucrats and their relatives. The scandal has already led to the resignation of Ashok
Chavan, the former chief minister of Maharashtra. Other state officials are also under the
scanner.

2. The 2G Scam:

The 2G Scam or the Telecom Sector Scandal, which took place during the UPA regime,
revolved around the government auctioning the 2G spectrum. Top ministers had allegedly
colluded to undercharge certain mobile phone companies while allocating the frequencies, in
exchange for a bribe. This reportedly cost the exchequer a whopping Rs.1.76 lakh crores. The
massive abuse of power came to light when an RTI was filed by activist Subhash Chandra
Agrawal.

3. Public Distribution Scam in Assam:

In 2007, members of an anti-corruption non-governmental organization based in Assam, the

Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, filed an RTI request that revealed irregularities in the
distribution of food meant for people below the poverty line. The allegations of corruption
were probed and several government officials arrested.

4. Appropriation of Relief Funds:

Information obtained through an RTI application by an NGO based in Punjab, in 2008

revealed that bureaucrats heading local branches of the Indian Red Cross Society used money
intended for victims of the Kargil war and natural disasters to buy cars, air-conditioners and
pay for hotel bills — among other things. Local courts charged the officials found responsible
with fraud and the funds were transferred to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

5. Payment of pension dues from Railways

“Payment of interest on arrears due on account of recomputation of pension and other
retirement benefits as a result of implementation of Supreme Court’s Judgment dated
25-07-1997 in CA No 4174/88of 1995 and other tagged SLPs”
Indian Railway Pensioners Association Bhavnagar Division of Western Railway, over the
years, submitted hundreds of representations to GM Western Railway & DRM Bhavnagar to
get the payment in the above case. 137 specific cases of non-payment were filed in the
pension Adalat, but nothing happened. When, a request under RTI ACT 2005 was submitted
to CPIO Western Railway for disclosing the reasons for not implementing the judgment of
the Apex court, things started moving and the Western Railway accepted the liability for
making payment and all the Divisions of Western Railway were advised to take immediate
steps for making payment.
Source: http://cic.gov.in/bestpractices.htm

6. Transparency in Public Distribution System for BPL Families

The ‘Mere Gaon Ke Sawaal’ Campaign volunteers noticed that the residents of Nai Basti
(Bahraich, UP) were also facing the same problems as the other economically backward
villages of the region. The ‘Kotedar’ had been apathetic towards their requests. The use of
Right to Information by the villagers, the women being in majority, was successful in curbing
the corruption that had seeped in the Public Distribution System to some extent.
When the campaign volunteers saw the BPL ration cards of the villagers, they found that no
entries had been made during February 2006 to December 2006. It was evident that the
villagers had not received any ration in the said time period. Immediately, 51 village residents
agreed to file group RTI applications on the issue and demanded information regarding the
acquisition and the distribution of the ration and also asked for copies of the ration records.
The applications were filed by the applicants personally after a lot of difficulty at the District
Supply Office. Exactly within a fortnight, the Kotedar reached the village and narrated a long
sob story, which moved few of the innocent villagers so much that they even agreed to take
back their RTI applications. They very next day the Kotedar brought a mini bus to the village
along with “pooris” made with one quintal flour and asked the villagers to come to the
SDM’s office and take back their RTI applications. But, the women of the forest village rights
forum refused to do so. This initiative by the women of the village encouraged the other
villagers and they also refused to take back their RTI applications. The Kotedar trying
another of his tactics, one day announced in the village that all those who requested for
information can collect it from him. When few villagers reached to take the information, they
were forced to make thumb imprints on a blank paper. The Dehat Sanstha volunteers
immediately reported this scam to the SDM. Finally, the Kotedar was suspended.
Source: PACS Report

7. IIM’s Admission Criteria:

Vaishnavi Kasturi a visually-impaired student, in 2007 was denied a seat in the Indian
Institute of Management in Bangalore, one of the country’s premier management institutes —
despite her impressive score at the entrance examination. Ms. Kasturi wanted to know why,
and wondered whether it was because of her physical disability. She filed an RTI application
to request the institute to disclose their selection process. Although she failed to gain
admission to the institute, her RTI application meant that IIM had to make its admission
criteria public. It emerged that the entrance exam, the Common Admission Test, actually
mattered little compared to Class 10 and 12 results.

8. The Seven Ponds:

In 2010, K.S. Sagaria smelt a rat when the paperwork showed that seven ponds had been
constructed for below poverty lines families in Kushmal village of Orissa, but no one in the
village could spot them.

So he filed an RTI application which revealed that the ponds were never dug, the “labourers”
who worked to “construct” the ponds included dead people.

Following complaints, the administration suspended the officials involved in the subterfuge,
and the project was renewed, but this time, the villagers vowed to keep a check on its
progress.

9. Scholarships For Students:

While several of his classmates and their parents were fretting when they didn’t receive their
scholarships for the academic year of 2011–2012, nine-year-old Manoj, a student at the
government primary school in Vailpoor, Nizamabad district of Telangana, filed an
application.

In his application directed at the Labour Welfare Department, the class 4 student asked why
the money had not reached the students, and by when they could expect their scholarships.

Manoj’s RTI application secured scholarships for 10 students, who are the children of beedi
workers.

10. Exposing corruption in medicine procurement at Public Sector Unit

Applicants belonging to Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh and Koria district of Chhattisgarh

filedRTI applications with the PIO of South Eastern Coal Fields Ltd. (SECL) situated at its
head office in Bilaspur during the months of February – April 2006. They sought the
following information–
1. Names of all medicines procured by SECL for distribution through its primary health
centres and its OPD clinics in the Hasdev coal mines area during the financial year 2005-06.
(They cater exclusively to the employees of SECL and their families)
2. Quantity of medicines procured during the same period.
3. Supply price of each item.
4. Copies of all purchase orders issued by SECL for these medicines.
5. Name and contact details of suppliers who bagged the purchase order.
All three applicants received the requested information within the 30 day deadline stipulated
in the RTI Act.
Armed with these documents, applicants worked for several weeks crosschecking the data
along with a team of about 25 committed volunteers. Based on the research it was found out
that fictitious companies were shown as suppliers of luxury items in the name ofprocurement
of medical supplies. Next, the volunteers cross checked the rates at which the medicines had
been supplied only to find that the retail outlets sold the same items a lot cheaper.These
details were published in local magazine popular in the coal mining belt of Madhya Pradesh
and Chhattisgarh. Thereafter, the Vigilance unit instituted a formal investigation and action
against the concerned officials was initiated.
Source:http://cic.gov.in/bestpractices.htm

CASE STUDIES:
1)EXPOSING NREGA SCAM IN RAJASTHAN

Background

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was enacted
in 2005 to guarantee at least 100 days of wage employment to rural households in India. The
Act aimed to address rural poverty by providing livelihood opportunities through manual
labour and infrastructure projects. Rajasthan, one of the leading states in implementing
MGNREGA, saw significant participation from rural communities. However, issues such as
delays in wage payments, ghost beneficiaries, and misallocation of funds plagued the scheme.

The Right to Information (RTI) Act, also enacted in 2005, became a powerful tool in
addressing these inefficiencies. Social activists and rural workers began using RTI to demand
transparency in the implementation of MGNREGA, specifically in Rajasthan, where
grassroots movements were prominent.

Several activist groups, most notably the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), led by
social activist Aruna Roy, used RTI to monitor the progress of MGNREGA projects. The
MKSS had already been involved in promoting transparency through earlier efforts to
demand the right to information from the government, and they saw MGNREGA as an ideal
opportunity to extend their work.

Through RTI, villagers in Rajasthan filed applications seeking detailed information about:

1. Work Allocation: Which projects were initiated, the type of work assigned to each
worker, and the duration of their employment.
2. Wage Payments: The amount of money allocated for wages, and whether the
payments were being made on time and in full.
3. Fund Utilisation: Information on the total budget allocated for each project, the
materials purchased, and how the funds were distributed.
4. Job Cards and Beneficiaries: To identify discrepancies in the issuance of job cards,
especially cases where non-existent or "ghost" workers were recorded as having
received wages.

Key Findings from RTThrough the use of RTI, several irregularities in the implementation of
MGNREGA in Rajasthan were uncovered:

1. Ghost Workers: RTI applications revealed that in many cases, wages were being paid
to fictitious or non-existent individuals. These "ghost workers" were listed on job
 cards, and funds were being syphoned off by corrupt officials and middlemen. In
some instances, even government officials or village heads were found guilty of
inflating worker numbers to embezzle money.
2. Delayed Wages: One of the critical promises of MGNREGA was timely wage
payment. However, RTI queries in several districts of Rajasthan, such as Ajmer,
Udaipur, and Barmer, revealed that wage payments were delayed for weeks or even
months. In many cases, workers had completed their assigned tasks but were left
without payment due to bureaucratic delays or the mismanagement of funds.
3. Material Misuse: The RTI applications also highlighted the misuse of materials
purchased for public infrastructure projects, such as the construction of roads or
ponds. Contractors and local officials over-reported the materials used, while the
actual work remained substandard or incomplete.
4. Corruption in Fund Allocation: The RTI data showed discrepancies in how project
funds were allocated and utilised. For example, funds were diverted to other,
non-MGNREGA projects, or spent on projects that existed only on paper. This
resulted in incomplete or poorly constructed public works, defeating the purpose of
providing sustainable infrastructure in rural areas.

What conclusions we draw?

-We have noticed that there was a great number of problems faced by these activists such as
resistance by politicians,getting threats for raising their voice etc.
-When we talk about how did it impacted the place,so it definitely helped insure transparency
and proved that no government can hide things,and scams related to corruptions which is a
very prevalent problem of the country,can be handled if people start questioning their
activities,and this is where Right to Information enters.

2)Amit Jethwa and Illegal Mining

Amit Jethwa was a well-known environmental activist and social worker in Gujarat who had
dedicated himself to exposing illegal mining operations in the Gir Forest region, the only
natural habitat of the Asiatic lion. Jethwa had been filing RTI applications to gather
information on the rampant illegal mining in the protected forest area, which was causing
extensive environmental damage and violating environmental regulations.

In particular, Jethwa focused on uncovering the involvement of powerful local politicians,

including Dinu Solanki, a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP), who was allegedly linked to the mining mafia operating in the area. Jethwa's RTI
queries revealed substantial evidence of illegal mining activities and their links to influential
people, implicating them in one of the state's largest environmental violations.

Use of RTI by Amit Jethwa

Through his RTI applications, Jethwa sought detailed information about the mining licenses
issued in the Gir region, the extent of mining operations, and violations of forest and
environmental laws. Some of the key findings from Jethwa's RTI inquiries included:

● Illegal Mining Permits: Jethwa uncovered that several mining operators were carrying
out their activities without proper licences or in areas where mining was strictly
prohibited due to environmental regulations.
● Political Patronage: His RTI queries revealed that several mining operators enjoyed
political patronage, receiving protection from law enforcement agencies and local
officials despite openly violating the law.

Murder of Amit Jethwa

However, Jethwa's activism came at a high personal cost. On July 20, 2010, just days after
filing his PIL, Amit Jethwa was shot dead outside the Gujarat High Court in Ahmedabad.
Two assailants on a motorcycle fired multiple rounds at him, killing him instantly. The
murder shocked the nation and brought the issue of activist safety under the spotlight.

Investigations into Jethwa's murder soon pointed to Dinu Solanki and his associates, who
were implicated in ordering the hit on Jethwa due to his RTI activism and his exposure of the
illegal mining racket. Despite widespread calls for justice, the case moved slowly due to
Solanki's political clout.

The case of Amit Jethwa’s murder highlights several significant failures in the
implementation and protection related to the Right to Information (RTI) Act in India:

1. Lack of Protection for RTI Activists: There is no formal mechanism to protect RTI
activists, leaving them vulnerable to threats, harassment, and even murder, as seen in
Jethwa’s case and over 100 similar incidents.
2. Political Influence and Bureaucratic Resistance: Politicians and bureaucrats often
resist RTI disclosures, using their influence to block or delay investigations, which
can lead to threats or attacks on activists.
3. Judicial Delays: Slow judicial processes delay justice for murdered activists. It took
nearly a decade for Jethwa’s killers to be convicted, reflecting systemic inefficiencies.

4.Chilling Effect on Civic Activism: The targeting of RTI activists discourages others from

5.Using RTI to expose corruption, creating a climate of fear and reducing public
accountability.
Inadequate Policy Safeguards: While a whistleblower protection law exists, it has not been
fully implemented, leaving activists like Jethwa exposed to harm.

Amendments
The Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005 was amended once, on July 25, 2019. The
amendment changed sections 13 and 16 of the original act. The amendment gave the central
government the power to choose the State Chief Information Commissioner and Information
Commission, instead of a three-member panel.

Data of Different Indian States:

The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, has proven to be an essential tool for promoting
transparency and accountability in governance across Indian states. In Kerala, the State
Information Commission has efficiently addressed a significant number of RTI applications,
enhancing public trust in government processes. Maharashtra, one of the leading states in
RTI usage, received over 8 lakh applications in recent years, with a strong response rate,
though it also faces a backlog of unresolved cases. Rajasthan has emerged as a pioneer,
particularly with its digital initiatives, simplifying the filing process and providing timely
responses. In Tamil Nadu, the RTI Act has been effectively leveraged to expose corruption
and enhance public welfare schemes. Delhi, too, has seen significant use of RTI, especially
for addressing urban governance and service delivery issues. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
struggle with a high pendency of cases and lower awareness, indicating the need for better
implementation and awareness drives to maximize the RTI's potential. In contrast,
Karnataka has seen notable success in utilizing RTI to monitor developmental projects,
while Gujarat has implemented several proactive disclosure mechanisms under the Act.
West Bengal and Odisha are also making steady progress, with increasing numbers of
citizens filing applications for rural development and welfare schemes. These varied patterns
highlight both the success stories and the challenges in utilizing RTI as a tool for empowering
citizens across India's diverse states.

Major criticism and controversies:

1)Attacks on people who seek information under RTI:

Problem:
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) data points to over 310 cases across India
where people were either attacked, physically or mentally harassed or had their property
damaged because of the information they sought under RTI. The data throws up over 50
alleged murders and two suicides that were directly linked with RTI applications filed
There is a consensus felt that there is a need to amend the RTI Act to provide for the
protection of those seeking information under the Act.

Solutions suggested:
The Asian Centre for Human Rights recommends that a separate chapter, "Protection of those
seeking information under the (RTI) Act", be inserted into the Act.

Protection measures suggested include:

● Mandatory, immediate registration of complaints of threats or attacks against RTI

activists on the First Information Report and placing such FIRs before the
magistrate or judge of the area within 24 hours for issuance of directions for
protection of those under threats and their family members, and periodic review of
such protection measures
 ● Conducting inquiry into threats or attacks by a police officer not below the rank of
Deputy Superintendent of Police/Assistant Commissioner of Police to be
concluded within 90 days and we also use RTI and get its benefit.

2)Subversion under Intellectual Property Rights:

Many civil society members have recently alleged the subversion of the right to information
Act by the invocation of Intellectual Property rights argument by the government agencies
from time to time.

Most notable are:The Right to Information denied by RBI on Demonetization citing

Intellectual Property Laws.The Right to Information Denied by Uttar Pradesh Irrigation
Department after more than 8 months of a wait on under construction Gomti Riverfront
Development Project. A group of researchers requested for environment Impact and Project
Report on the project which is flagged for negative impacts, tax money wastage by
environmental scientists and research reports

3)Banning People from filing RTI

Gujarat State Information Commission banned 10 people from filing RTI queries, citing that
these people were "harassing government officials" by filing multiple queries with "malafide
intentions".Some people have been blacklisted which was not allowed under the act.

4)Rejction Of RTI
Right to Information Act's original intent to make government transparent and accountable is
faltering as RTI requests are rejected and the bureaucratic systems are bogged down by
thousands of requests.[33]

Many RTIs are rejected because the bureaucratic requirements (including the technocratic
language used) of filing are too onerous and legalistic for ordinary citizens.[34][35] Sixty
percent of the RTI appeals made to Information Commissioners in Delhi are rejected for a
variety of reasons, including that appeals are not typed or not written in English, or lack an
index of the papers attached or a list of date

5)Lack of Awareness
A significant portion of the Indian population, particularly in rural areas, remains unaware of
the RTI Act and how to use it effectively. The lack of public awareness limits the reach of the
Act, especially among marginalized communities who could benefit the most from greater
transparency.
6)Limited Scope
Certain organizations, including security and intelligence agencies, are exempt from the
purview of the RTI Act. This has been a point of contention, as critics argue that this allows
some institutions to operate without transparency, even in situations where public interest
may be involved.

LEARNING OUTCOME:
In exploring the Right to Information (RTI) as a tool, I have gained valuable insights into its
power to promote transparency and accountability within governance. The RTI Act provides
citizens like me with a platform to request information from public authorities, which helps in
ensuring that government operations remain open and accessible. I have learned how this
legal mechanism can be utilized to uncover inefficiencies, reduce corruption, and enhance
democratic participation.

From a personal standpoint, I now understand the significant role RTI plays in empowering
individuals to engage with public institutions. This exploration has also strengthened my
awareness of my own rights as a citizen and how I can use these tools to advocate for social
justice and reform.

The learning outcomes from this exercise include:

● Understanding the legal framework and processes of filing an RTI request.

● Recognizing the importance of transparency in governance for building trust between
citizens and the state.
● Learning how to utilize RTI as an instrument for advocacy and problem-solving
within my community.
● Developing a deeper appreciation of the link between access to information and
accountability in public affairs.

Overall, this assignment has equipped me with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills
to engage with governance in a more informed and proactive way.

CONCLUSION:
To conclude, the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 represents a landmark in India's
legislative efforts towards ensuring transparency, accountability, and openness in governance.
By granting citizens the right to access information held by public authorities, the Act has
empowered ordinary individuals to question, scrutinize, and hold government agencies
accountable for their actions. This legislative framework is a fundamental step in reinforcing
the democratic ethos of the country, as it enables the public to participate actively in
decision-making processes and ensures that the government remains answerable to the people
it serves.

The RTI Act has been instrumental in exposing corruption, inefficiency, and malpractices in
various governmental institutions. From local governing bodies to national ministries, the
demand for information under RTI has often led to corrective measures and greater
transparency. Citizens now have the means to question how public funds are utilized, how
policies are implemented, and how decisions that affect their lives are made. The Act also
plays a crucial role in improving the quality of governance by encouraging public servants to
act more responsibly, knowing that their decisions can be reviewed by the public.

Despite its far-reaching impact, the RTI Act faces several challenges that limit its
effectiveness. Delays in processing requests, lack of adequate infrastructure, and resistance
from certain governmental sectors often frustrate citizens attempting to obtain information. In
addition, the absence of widespread awareness about the Act's provisions, especially in rural
areas, undermines its potential to create a truly informed citizenry. Furthermore, there have
been concerns regarding the misuse of RTI requests for personal or vindictive purposes,
which can divert resources from more genuine inquiries.

To maximize the RTI Act’s benefits, several reforms are necessary. Increasing awareness
about the Act through education campaigns, improving the training of Public Information
Officers (PIOs), and strengthening penalties for non-compliance are key steps. Additionally,
reducing bureaucratic hurdles and providing timely, accessible responses to RTI applications
are essential to make the system more efficient and user-friendly. Digital platforms for filing
and tracking RTI requests have also made the process more accessible, but further
advancements in technology integration can ease the burden on citizens and authorities alike.

In conclusion, the RTI Act remains one of the most powerful tools for enhancing
transparency and accountability in India’s democracy. By enabling citizens to access
government-held information, it fosters a culture of openness, where the government is more
responsive and responsible to the needs and queries of its people. However, realizing the full
potential of the Act requires continued efforts from both the government and civil society to
address existing challenges and improve the efficacy of its implementation. With sustained
commitment to reform, the RTI Act can significantly strengthen India’s democratic processes,
fostering a governance model that is more inclusive, transparent, and accountable to all.

Sources:
www.indiacode.nic.in
www.byjus.com
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/rti-success-stories-7-times-the-act-helped-uncov
er-scams-anomalies-4266141.html
https://vikaspedia.in/e-governance/about-rti-act-2005/rti-success-stories#section6
https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1579510#:~:text=The%20Election%20Com
mission%20is%20a,prescribed%20by%20the%20Central%20Government.