Bill to keep parties out of RTI ambit in LS today
The government is all set to introduce a bill that will enable it to keep political parties out of the purview of the Right to Information Act in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
The bill is listed for introduction in the business list for the LS for Monday. It is to be introduced by the Union minister of state for personnel, public grievances and pensions V. Narayanasamy.
The government’s move to amend the RTI Act comes despite Opposition from RTI activists to the decision to what they say is the dilution of the act. The National Campaign for People’s Right to Information in fact says that the government’s move will not only keep political parties out of the ambit of the act but also “curtail various other entitlements that have now established the ability of the RTI to fight corruption and the arbitrary use of power by the establishment”.
The proposed amendment if passed by Parliament will mean that the Central Information Commission’s order of June 3 bringing the six national political parties — Congress, BJP, NCP, CPI-M, CPI and BSP — under the RTI Act will be negated.
The government, it is expected, will not encounter any difficulties in seeing this bill through Parliament as political parties are strongly opposed to being under the CIC’s ambit.
According to sources, the government will be moving to propose an amendment in Section 2 of the act, which defines public authority, to shield political parties.
The CIC in its June order had held that the six national parties have been substantially funded indirectly by the Central government and were required to appoint public information officers as they have the character of a public authority under the RTI Act.
Post new comment