Autopsy of RTI in the Police Universe of the Indian Polity
Autopsy of RTI in the Police Universe of the Indian Polity Autopsy of RTI in the Police Universe of the Indian Polity Posted on 25th September, 2024 (GMT 16:28 hrs) AKHAR BANDYOPADHYAY ⤡ DEBAPRASAD BANDYOPADHYAY ⤡ ABSTRACT The article critiques the weakening of the Right to Information (RTI) Act (2005) in the context of politico-economic policing in India involving the rapid censorship or suppression of democratic spaces for dissent by means such as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. It highlights how crony oligarchical forces of exclusion often resist transparency, using legal loopholes or claiming exemptions under the guise of national security or privacy. Despite RTI’s intent to empower citizens and ensure accountable communicative competence, it is frequently undermined by bureaucratic hurdles, delaying tactics, and increased threats on RTI Activists. The piece underscores how this undermines democratic engagement and public trust in the various law enforcement inst