SHORT ANSWER:
The Supreme Court of India has reinforced the Right to Information (RTI) Act through various rulings that address coercion and obstruction by public authorities.
DETAILS:
- The Supreme Court has upheld the RTI Act as a fundamental right under Article 19 of the Constitution.
- In the case of "Central Board of Secondary Education v. Aditya Bandopadhyay" (2011), the Court ruled that the RTI Act applies to all public authorities, including educational institutions.
- In "Union of India v. Association for Democratic Reforms" (2002), the Court emphasized the importance of transparency in governance.
- The Court has consistently ruled against any obstruction or coercion by public authorities in providing information.
PUNISHMENT / IMPLICATIONS (if applicable):
- Public authorities found obstructing RTI requests may face penalties under the RTI Act.
- Officials can be penalized for failing to provide information or for providing false information.
SOURCE:
- Right to Information Act, 2005 / Supreme Court of India
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