Urging to work towards further strengthening the implementation of the RTI Act, President Pranab Mukherjee today asked all stakeholders including public authorities and private sectors to voluntarily disclose information in the public domain. Inaugurating the two-day 8th annual convention of Central Information Commission in New Delhi, President Mukherjee also deplored the percentage increase in rejection of information under RTI in the recent years. He said, the percentage of RTI rejection of information increased from 5.2 percent in 2010-11 to 7 percent in 2012-13, which needs to be looked into. The President said, the availability of information decreases the need for demanding it. He said, the large number of complaints received indicate the lacking quality of voluntary disclosure in the public domain.
Pointing out that RTI should promote transparency, accountability and good governance, the President called for jointly working towards creating informed citizens vital for a dynamic democracy. He said, the RTI is an important instrument for ensuring good governance and an effective tool in fighting corruption and effective anti-corruption tool.