Right to Information (RTI) is a part of fundamental rights under Article 19(1) of the Constitution.
Article 19 (1) says that every citizen has freedom of speech and expression.
Highlights from the case of Raj Narain vs. State of UP, 1976 :
The Supreme Court Ruled:
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India is a democracy. People are the masters. Therefore, the masters have a right to know how the governments, meant to serve them, are functioning.
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Further, every citizen pays taxes. Even a beggar on the street pays tax (in the form of sales tax, excise duty etc) when he buys a piece of soap from the market. The citizens therefore, have a right to know how their money was being spent.
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These three principles were laid down by the Supreme Court while saying that RTI is a part of our fundamental rights. |