The role of Central Information Commission (CIC) since 2005 has been exemplary. It has dealt successfully with various serious issues like disclosure of information related to mercy petitions, phone tapping and bank details, says MANU MOUDGIL

Public officers have been wrongly invoking exemptions under national interest to deny information under the RTI Act. MANU MOUDGIL tracks recent RTI denials and the CIC's approach in a two-part series.

The selection of candidates for the posts of Information Commissioner is a classic case of political collusion that has been exposed by a vigilant civil society and responsible media in Andhra Pradesh. MADABHUSHI SRIDHAR says that leaders should understand that the post is not something that can be doled out to political workers. Pix: Governor Narasimhan

Social activists have converted the RTI into a powerful tool for those seeking justice, using persistence. They acquire information under the act and give it to the media. But journalists, regrets MANU MOUDGIL, have lagged behind in realising its potential.

Professional probity was always his doctrine, and he virtually shed tears over the advent of the 'paid news' era. INDER MALHOTRA pays tribute to Ajit Bhattacharjea in the Indian Express

In four years the chief minister has taken annual advertisements placed in newspapers from Rs 4.5 crore to Rs 25.25 crore. MD. ALI presents the findings of RTI activist AFROZ ALAM SAHIL.

The Nitish Kumar Government amends the RTI act to allow only a single piece of information per application and has restricted the number of free of cost pages. This is illegal, says VISHNU RAJGADIA. Pix: Bihartimes.com

She believes RTI is essential and the only option to activate an indifferent government machinery and goad it into protecting the interests of the minority community. RTI has proved to be the most effective tool in handling a biased bureaucracy and politicians, says KULSUM MUSTAFA, Women's Feature Service.

Recent reports in Jharkhand suggest that information seekers are told to pay substantial sums in the name of the government staff's salary. VISHNU RAJGADIA says the state has put its own money-making spin on the RTI Act.