QUE : Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, which laws and matters are not required to be disclosed? State.

The Right to Information Act was brought to help open government documents to citizen scrutiny. Providing information about what any government is doing and how effectively it is working will help make the government more accountable to the citizens, which is a basic requirement of good governance.

•  In the year 1986, the Supreme Court, while giving its verdict in the case of Kulwal v Jaipur MCD, stated that the right to information is a part of the right to freedom of speech and expression.
  
•  Section (8) of the RTI Act, 2005 has given relaxation in providing certain information:
  
•  Relaxation in disclosing information related to the following subjects
  

• Matters relating to national economic interest.
  
•  Relations with foreign states.
  
•  Law enforcement and judicial proceedings.
  
•  Cabinet and other policy-making documents.
  
•  Trade secrets and professional secrecy.
  
•  Personal security.
•  National security and sovereignty.
  
• In addition, organizations like BSF, CRPF, SSB, Assam Rifles are also excluded.
  
• Relaxation in disclosure of information related to the following laws

•  The Official Secrets Act, 1923 (OSA) provides that any government officer can mark a document as confidential so as to prevent its publication.
  
•  The Atomic Energy Act, 1912 provides that it shall be an offence to disclose information prohibited by the Central Government.
  
•  The Central Civil Services Act provides that a government servant shall not communicate with or take part in any matter relating to any official document except in accordance with the general or special orders of the Government.
  
•  In addition, certain provisions of the Indian Evidence Act (Sections 123, 124 and 162) provide for the prevention of disclosure of documents. Such as, state relations, official documents etc…

                        But, efforts will have to be ensured to prevent the misuse of refusing to provide information by advancing confidentiality, national security or Right to Privacy. In this regard, the Delhi High Court, observing, said that action should be taken against the misuse of the exemptions given in the RTI Act, otherwise the public will lose faith in this “Sunshine Act.”