Covid 19 Pandemic-A Bane to Seeking Information in India

Abstract

Right to seek information is a right deeply embedded into Article 19 of the Indian Constitution and which
generally cannot be suspended in the worst of the worst situations save exceptions. The right guarantees
Indian citizens to seek information from the public authorities on the touchstone of informed citizenry,
greater and transparent access to information, accountability, and optimum use of limited fiscal resources.
The recent impact of COVID -19 has not only shaken the basic edifice in India but has also weakened the
countries across the world in some or the other mode. In a way the pandemic has caused immense trench in
the economic as well as social well-being of the citizens.
The Right to Information Act, 20051 was enacted by the Parliament in India with the aim to provide for
setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the
control of Public Authorities. The basic objective of the Right to Information Act is to empower the citizens,
promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Public Authorities, contain corruption, and
make our democracy work for the people in real sense.
Therefore an attempt in this paper has been made to ascertain, whether the rights of citizen to seek information
in this great despondency time of Covid- 19 has been able to bolster or not. Weather the right to information
as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution is available to citizen irrespective of the pandemic situation.