New Delhi | The BJP led NDA government ahead of the No-confidence motion on Thursday will move a “Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2018”. The bill will change the landmark transparency law the Right To Information Act.
The amendments will involve the salaries and tenures of Information Commissioners at the states and centre, which, activists say, is a coercive measure that will interfere with their freedom to make independent decisions.
The “Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2018” states that information commissioners who currently have five-year tenures – have “terms as may be prescribed by the central government”. The salaries of the RTI commissioner will be similar Election Commission officials – will be decided by the Central government.
According to the government sources, “It was suggested that it is not good practice to put Information Commissioners on par with Election Commissioners. The Election Commission is a constitutional body responsible for free and fair elections, but the Information Commission is a statutory body formed to look into complaints and requests for information under the RTI”.
Various RTI activist and anti-corruption workers protested in Delhi and other parts of India since the government listed the bill for “introduction, consideration and passing” the monsoon session. Few RTI activists even filed an RTI petition regarding the contents of the bill.
The leaders of Congress, the Trinamool Congress along with Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party and Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal said they will oppose any move to “dilute” the RTI Act. The Congress party alleged the BJP-led central government is “destroying” institutions and legislation of transparency and accountability in the country.
“Every Indian has the right to know the truth. The BJP believes the truth must be hidden from the people and they must not question people in power. The changes proposed to the RTI will make it a useless Act. They must be opposed by every Indian, tweeted Rahul Gandhi.
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