Subverting the RTI regime
The recent passage of the Right to Information Bill by the Lok Sabha has reignited the debate on the future of important institutions in India. Two of the most controversial provisions of the Bill are: a) the stipulation that the terms of office of the Central and State Information Commissioners will be determined by the Central government as against the existing provision which guarantees a fixed term of five years or up to an age of 65 years; and b) the proposal that their salaries, allowances, and other terms and conditions of service will be determined by the Central government. He said this potentially equated CICs to Judges of the Supreme Court even though the order passed by CIC is liable to be challenged in a High Court. The Supreme Court has termed the CIC and SICs as guardians of the Act and directed that CIC and ICs shall be appointed on the same terms and conditions as applicable to the Chief Election Commissioner/Election Commissioners. That right puts greater responsibility upon those who take upon the responsibility to inform.” Instead of playing one institutional body against the other and diluting their powers, what is expected of the government is to focus on the real challenges faced by these institutions, such as pendency of applications; vacancies; and qualitative decline in adjudication standards.
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