Transparency and accountablity essence of democracy: Habibullah

Dehradun, Mar 10 (UNI) Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah today said transparency and accountability are the essence of democracy.

In his keynote address at a seminar on 'The Right to Information Act 2005', organised by Uttaranchal Lok Ayukta Justice S H A Raza and Citizen Action Group here, Mr Habibullah said the Right To Information Act (RTI) will ensure that information about government functioning is accessible to the all citizens of the country.

''In democracy, the government is created by the people and therefore it is accountable to them,'' he said.

Mr Habibullah said information can also be provided in local languages as has been prescribed in the Act.

''Ironically it is not being done particularly in the larger states,'' he said, adding the Act has been implemented in 20 states out of the total 28.

Uttaranchal Governor Sudarshan Agarwal, who was also present, said he was hopeful that the Act will help the common man.

UNI LPT AK KN1514