Undermining RTI – Editorial
Any amendment to a law is bound to be viewed with suspicion if no fundamental need is seen for the changes it proposes. Amendments passed by the Lok Sabha to the Right to Information Act are so obviously unnecessary that naturally many see an ulterior motive. It is difficult not to concur with activists who contend that the amendments pose a threat to the freedom and autonomy of Information Commissions at the Central and State levels.…
Protecting citizens’ right to information is a cause important enough for adjudicating authorities to be vested with high status and security of tenure. Given the extent to which the RTI Act has empowered citizens and helped break the hold of vested interests over the administration, the law has always faced a threat from many in power.
The RTI Act was a consensus law and a product of public consultation. The present amendments have not been put to any debate. The government would do well to drop the Bill or at least send it to a parliamentary select committee for deeper scrutiny.
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/undermining-rti/article28701717.ece
SEE ALSO:
- RTI amendments: Questionable Legislative competence, dual control and other legal quagmires arising out of a one-night stand with the RTI Act – By Venkatesh Nayak (Jul 24, 2019, Sabrang India)
https://www.sabrangindia.in/article/rti-amendments-questionable-legislative-competence-dual-control-and-other-legal-quagmires - Subverting the RTI regime – By Farheen Ahmad and Anmolam (Jul 23, 2019, The Hindu)
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/subverting-the-rti-regime/article28658159.ece - The right to know – Editorial (Jul 24, 2019, Indian Express)
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/right-to-information-rti-act-narendra-modi-lok-sabha-rajya-sabha-parliament-bjp-5846112/ - What makes RTI Amendment Bill so controversial? – By Prabhash K Dutta (Jul 23, 2019, India Today)
https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/what-makes-rti-amendment-bill-so-controversial-1572596-2019-07-23
