Access to information is a fundamental right of every citizen: Keralam Information Commissioner
Kerala State Information Commissioner T.K. Ramakrishnan emphasized that access to information is a fundamental right and urged government officials to ensure timely responses to RTI requests. He called for better file management, digital preservation, and accountability for lost or missing records.
Why it matters
This reinforces the importance of government transparency and the administrative responsibility of public officials in upholding democratic rights.
Access to information is a fundamental right of every citizen, and government officials must ensure that information sought by the public is provided within the stipulated time, State Information Commissioner T.K. Ramakrishnan has said.
He was speaking after an RTI Commission sitting held at the Collectorate conference hall in Thrissur on Wednesday (September 9, 2026).
The commissioner said mechanisms such as the Information Commission were intended to ensure citizens’ rights in an accessible and cost-effective manner. Officials must provide information available within their respective offices without delay and ensure that information required to be disclosed suo motu is updated regularly, he said.
He stressed the need for government offices to maintain files efficiently, with proper indexing and categorisation, so that information can be retrieved easily. Heads of offices would be responsible for ensuring proper file management and keeping registers updated, he said.
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