Constitution of India vide its articles 19(1) and 21 envisages a right in favour of the citizen to know anything and everything done by public functionaries. Thus Right to know is the sine qua non of democracy. The Right to Information Act 2005 (RTI Act) was promulgated in the same background to strengthen the powers of citizen to secure the access to information held by the public authorities.
Section 7 of the RTI mandates the Public Authorities to disseminate the information held by it. The limitations and exemption from disclosure is contained in section (8) (9) and (24) of the RTI Act and to some extent also u/s 11 thereof.
RTI Act prescribes three forums for its implementation. The Public Information officer (PIO), the First Appellate Authority (FAA) and the second Appellate Authority or the central/State Information Commission (Commission).
The provisions of RTI Act included obligation of public authorities, constitution of Information Commission, designation of Public authorities, constitution of Information Commission, designation of Public Information Officers/ Assistant Public Information Officers and the powers to make rules by various competent Authorities. The Act has comprehensive reach and covers a wide spectrum of bodies. All the Departments and Undertaking of various Governments, Panchayat Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies, other Bodies
established, constituted, owned , controlled or substantially financed by Governments including non-governmental organization are covered under the Act. Access to information to all Indian citizens is the general rule under this Act, with very few exemptions which are subject to strict safeguards provided in the Act itself.
In pursuance of Sub-Section (1) of Section 15 of the said Act, the Government of Goa by notification No. 10/02/2006/LA, dated 02/03/2006
published in the Official Gazette Series I No. 14, dated 02/03/2006 constituted the Goa State Information Commission consisting of State Chief Information Commissioner and one State Information Commissioner.
In exercise of the power conferred by section 27 read with sub-Section (6) of Section 16 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Central Act No. 22 of 2005), the Government of Goa has also notified GSIC Appeal Procedure Rules 2006 vide notification No. D/INF/RTI/2005/4531.