RTI scores over US law, says expert from the US

Express news service Posted: Apr 24, 2008 at 0101 hrs
kolkata, April 23 The Right To Information Act, 2005 in India has an edge over the Freedom Of Information Act of US, says Thomas M Susman, the principal drafter of the US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Interacting with the State Electoral Officer, Debasish Sen, and other officials at American Center on Wednesday, Susman said that the Indian Act has the provision of a state information officer and a central information officer, a mechanism not available under the US law, which was drafted about 40 years ago and has been amended a number of times since then.

Impressing on the advantage of the Indian legislation, he said that in India public interest overrides the government’s interest.

Noting that right to information is good for the government, he said that it helps public have a larger confidence in the government.

“Right to information is empowering not just civil rights group but even those people are benefiting, who do not have access to it,” Susman said.