Book Reveiw of "The Right to Information in India" by Sudhir Naib

Abstract

The above analysis shows that while the state of the RTI appears to be satisfactory in isolation, its interaction with constitutional law doctrines showcases principled tensions. One might argue that these doctrinal predicaments are nothing but examples of ‘an old wine in a new bottle’ and that they have persisted since time immemorial. However, given the unique nature of the RTI, the central place it has come to occupy and its expanding coverage, it would only be sensible to conclude that the RTI regime must find unique solutions to these age old quandaries. One solution might be to give large amounts of discretion to the Public Information Officers appointed under the Act. However, as our critique has shown, that too can be problematic. It is hoped that every reader who comes across Naib’s work is compelled to think as deeply as these two readers were. All in all, this present work stands head and shoulders above the many commentaries and short introductions on the RTI that have flooded the market in the recent past. If the decisions given in the past few months are anything to go by, the RTI will garner even more attention in newspapers and across media in general. It is thus that if a citizen is to be made familiar with the fundamentals of the subject, he would do good to refer to this book.