Locking up information: Crippling the RTI Act
5 years, 5 months ago

Locking up information: Crippling the RTI Act

Deccan Chronicle  

The NDA looks serious about its legislative business: almost a dozen bills were presented and passed in Parliament in the current sitting; and many of them have important consequences. The only restriction on this right must be in line with the reasonable restrictions permitted under Article 19 which may be in the ‘interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.’ These are covered by Section 8 and 9 of the RTI Act and no other information can be denied to the ruled, nor can any reasons have to be given for seeking information. When government officials deny information, without the sanction of the law, citizens can approach the Information Commission which is the final appellate authority. The first draft of the RTI Act was presented to Parliament in December 2004 and had proposed the creation of In formation Commissions as final adjudicators to safeguard the citizen’s Right To Information. For this, it is necessary to elevate their status to that of the Election Commission of India.” Thus the issue of status and salaries of the Information Commissioners was discussed extensively by the Parliamentary Committee which had six members from the BJP including our present President Shri Ram Nath Kovind.

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History of this topic

Ecostani: Why the landmark RTI act is moribund and who is to blame
1 month ago

Ecostani: Why the landmark RTI act is moribund and who is to blame

Hindustan Times  

The only law in India that authorises people to question those in power, the Right To Information Act, has been weakened in several states including those ruled by the Congress, the party that introduced the landmark transparency law in 2005. In many states, state information commissions have been defunct for several years as the information commissioners, who hear the RTI …

RTI Act: CIC Upholds Denial Of Information On Blocking Of 'X' Accounts Covering Farmers' Protests And Those Critical Of Government
1 month ago

RTI Act: CIC Upholds Denial Of Information On Blocking Of 'X' Accounts Covering Farmers' Protests And Those Critical Of Government

Live Law  

Disposing of an appeal moved by a RTI applicant against denial of information pertaining to blocking of 'X' accounts covering "farmers' protests and those critical of the government", the Central Information Commission said that the response of the Public Information Officer was "appropriate and well within the precincts of the RTI Act". The appellant-applicant in his RTI application had sought …

After RTI Activist Flags Vacancies In Information Commissions, Supreme Court Seeks Data From Centre & States On CIC/SICs
1 month, 2 weeks ago

After RTI Activist Flags Vacancies In Information Commissions, Supreme Court Seeks Data From Centre & States On CIC/SICs

Live Law  

The Supreme Court today called on the Centre and states to furnish data regarding vacancies in Central/State Information Commissions as well as the proposed timelines for appointment of Information Commissioners thereto.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order in a PIL raising the issue of large number of vacancies in information commissions set up under the …

‘Activists have better knowledge of RTI Act than government officials’
5 months, 3 weeks ago

‘Activists have better knowledge of RTI Act than government officials’

The Hindu  

Expressing discontentment over the poor knowledge of the Right To Information Act among government officials, Ravindra Gurunath Dhakappa, the State Information Commissioner, said that some RTI activists had better knowledge of the RTI Act than them. “Poor knowledge of the RTI Act in government officials results in annoyance for applicants who rightfully seek information from public offices. Speaking on the …

INTERVIEW | ‘Information Commissions should be in the ICU’: Aruna Roy
1 year, 1 month ago

INTERVIEW | ‘Information Commissions should be in the ICU’: Aruna Roy

The Hindu  

The social activist says that those in power continue to find ways to refuse and thwart RTI requests. Power and independence equivalent to the Election Commissioners were vested in them to ensure smooth implementation of the law so that citizens could easily access information without interference from the officers who held the information. If “justice delayed is justice denied”, then …

Right To Information Act will become a dead letter if...: Supreme Court to Centre
1 year, 2 months ago

Right To Information Act will become a dead letter if...: Supreme Court to Centre

India Today  

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre and state governments to fill vacancies in Information Commissions across the country, saying that if the posts were not filled then the whole purpose of the Right To Information Act would be defeated and the Act would become a "dead letter". "The failure of the state governments to fill the posts of …

Explained | Has the Right to Information been weakened over the years?
1 year, 4 months ago

Explained | Has the Right to Information been weakened over the years?

The Hindu  

For 13 years, the Right to Information Act, 2005, helped citizens obtain information and data from the Government and State institutions that are not readily available in public domain. Amending the RTI Act Apart from allowing certain information to be kept secret for national security and sovereignty reasons, the RTI Act makes one exemption: it prohibits personal data disclosure of …

'Ensure Public Authorities Follow Mandate Of Section 4 RTI Act' : Supreme Court Directs Central/State Information Commissioners
1 year, 4 months ago

'Ensure Public Authorities Follow Mandate Of Section 4 RTI Act' : Supreme Court Directs Central/State Information Commissioners

Live Law  

The Supreme Court directed the Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions to ensure proper implementation of the mandate of Section 4 of the Right to Information Act. "While declaring that all citizens shall have the ‘right to information’ under Section 3 of the Act, the co-relative ‘duty’ in the form of obligation of public authorities is recognized in …

Data Protection Bill poses severe restrictions to RTI Act, advocacy group NCPRI cautions government
1 year, 5 months ago

Data Protection Bill poses severe restrictions to RTI Act, advocacy group NCPRI cautions government

The Hindu  

An upcoming amendment to the Right to Information Act, 2005 is set to remove the legal basis allowing government agencies to share personal information in public interest, a move that activists have warned would dilute the transparency law. According to that section, personal information cannot be disclosed under the RTI Act “which has no relationship to any public activity or …

RTI Act | Public Information Officer Cannot Challenge Appellate Authority's Order Directing It To Disclose Information: Karnataka High Court
1 year, 8 months ago

RTI Act | Public Information Officer Cannot Challenge Appellate Authority's Order Directing It To Disclose Information: Karnataka High Court

Live Law  

The Karnataka High Court has made it clear that under the Right to Information Act, a Public information Officer has no authority to prefer an appeal against an order passed by the Appellate Authority, directing him to furnish information to an applicant under the Act. A single judge bench of Justice N S Sanjay Gowda has said, “There is no …

Activists, MPs flag RTI amendment in data protection bill
1 year, 9 months ago

Activists, MPs flag RTI amendment in data protection bill

The Hindu  

Activists and Opposition Members of Parliament on March 13 expressed concern that a proposed amendment to the Right to Information Act, 2005, could close off avenues to citizens to uncover corruption. Section 8 of the RTI Act allows public authorities to refuse access to information if it intrudes on the privacy of an individual, but permits disclosure of information if …

Is the RTI Act fulfilling its purpose?
2 years ago

Is the RTI Act fulfilling its purpose?

The Hindu  

The Right to Information Act was passed by Parliament in 2005, aiming to give people access to the records of the Central and State governments. Anjali Bhardwaj: What is remarkable about the RTI Act is that it came as a result of a very strong grassroots movement, where people from all walks of life came together to say that there …

Digital Personal Data Protection Bill Proposes To Amend RTI Act To Completely Bar Disclosure Of Personal Information
2 years, 1 month ago

Digital Personal Data Protection Bill Proposes To Amend RTI Act To Completely Bar Disclosure Of Personal Information

Live Law  

The draft of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, which was released by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on November 18 for public comments, has a provision which proposes to amend the Right To Information Act 2005.Clause 30 of the draft proposes an amendment to Section 8 of the RTI Act, which will have the effect of totally …

Three lakh and counting: RTI pleas pile up at information commissions
2 years, 2 months ago

Three lakh and counting: RTI pleas pile up at information commissions

The Hindu  

A good 17 years after India got the Right to Information Act, the transparency regime in the country remains a mirage with nearly 3.15 lakh complaints or appeals pending with 26 information commissions across India. 2 completely defunct The report says two out of 29 information commissions across the country are completely defunct, four of them headless at the moment …

RTI Act | Information Commission Can't Turn Blind Eye To Culpable Delay In Furnishing Info By PIO: Karnataka High Court Imposes Penalty
2 years, 5 months ago

RTI Act | Information Commission Can't Turn Blind Eye To Culpable Delay In Furnishing Info By PIO: Karnataka High Court Imposes Penalty

Live Law  

The Karnataka High Court recently observed that the Information Commission cannot let the undue delay caused by a Public Information Officer in furnishing information as sought for under the Right to Education Act, go unpunished.Leaving the culpable delay to go with impunity strikes at the root of law, a single judge bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit said.The court was …

How the Right to Information Act is being steadily scuttled
3 years, 2 months ago

How the Right to Information Act is being steadily scuttled

India Today  

On October 12, marking the 16th anniversary of the Right to Information Act, Satark Nagrik Sangathan, a citizens’ collective, put out a revealing report on how a pathbreaking governance reform is being stalled. The Sangthan’s study shows that even as the RTI Act obligates each Information Commission to prepare an annual report on the implementation of the law, which is …

Changes to RTI Act do not ‘hamper’ Information Commissioners: Govt
3 years, 10 months ago

Changes to RTI Act do not ‘hamper’ Information Commissioners: Govt

The Hindu  

The government has said the amendments introduced in the Right to Information Act are for “administrative” convenience and do not “hamper” the independent functioning of Information Commissioners. Mr. Ramesh had said the amendments jeopardise the independent functioning of the Central Information Commissions and the State Information Commissions. The Rules framed under the amendments concerning the conditions of service and tenure …

'Info in One Click': MP Information Commissioner On Decision Behind Revolutionary Order On RTI
3 years, 10 months ago

'Info in One Click': MP Information Commissioner On Decision Behind Revolutionary Order On RTI

News 18  

A journalist-turned-Information Commissioner at Madhya Pradesh State Information Commission, Rahul Singh, has been quietly revolutionising the way the Right to Information Act is used to elicit information by one and all. Continuing with his efforts to strengthen RTI in different public domains, he has on Monday directed Additional Chief Secretary, General Administration Department, to order all the District Collectors to …

"Can't Provide Details Of Prime Minister's Entourage": IAF Moves Delhi High Court Against CIC Order Directing Disclosure Under RTI Act
4 years, 1 month ago

"Can't Provide Details Of Prime Minister's Entourage": IAF Moves Delhi High Court Against CIC Order Directing Disclosure Under RTI Act

Live Law  

A writ petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court against an order of the CIC, said to be affecting the sovereignty and integrity of India, inasmuch as it directs the Indian Air Force to disclose details of the Prime Minister's entourage under the RTI Act. The petition has been filed by the CPIO, Directorate of Personal Services, Air …

A concerted attack on RTI
4 years, 2 months ago

A concerted attack on RTI

The Hindu  

This year marks 15 years of the enactment of the Right to Information law, which has empowered millions to assert their citizenship and show truth to power. Since its enactment, the RTI law has been used by people to seek information to actively participate in decision-making processes and hold governments accountable. The potential of the law Every year nearly six …

Right To Information Act, 2005: All You Need To Know
4 years, 6 months ago

Right To Information Act, 2005: All You Need To Know

Live Law  

Right to Information Act 2005 is an act of the Parliament of India which sets all the rules and procedures regarding citizen's right to information from the government, inspect any government documents, seek certified photocopies thereof. As defined under section 2 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 A public authority means an organization which is established, constituted, owned, controlled, …

Nothing In RTI Act Empowers CIC To Constitute Any Committee Or Conduct Any Enquiry On Its Behalf : Bombay HC [Read Order]
4 years, 11 months ago

Nothing In RTI Act Empowers CIC To Constitute Any Committee Or Conduct Any Enquiry On Its Behalf : Bombay HC [Read Order]

Live Law  

The Bombay High Court on Monday ruled that nothing in the Right to Information Act, 2005 empowers the State or Central Information Commission to constitute any committee or conduct any enquiry on its behalf and stayed the implementation of an order passed by an Information Commissioner directing the Department of Economic Affairs to conduct an enquiry. Division bench of Justice …

RTI Activists Move SC To Implement Directions On Appointment Of Information Commissioners [Read Application]
5 years, 2 months ago

RTI Activists Move SC To Implement Directions On Appointment Of Information Commissioners [Read Application]

Live Law  

An application has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions for the timely and transparent appointment of Chief and Information Commissioners of the Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions in order to secure the fundamental Right to Information and the effective implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005. On February 15, 2019, the Supreme Court had issued …

RTI Amendments: An Obituary To Independent Information Commission
5 years, 2 months ago

RTI Amendments: An Obituary To Independent Information Commission

Live Law  

The suspense and mystery on the real impact on RTI is now ended. Information Commissioners get less salary than Chief Information Commissioner, which creates hierarchy which was deliberately avoided in original Act. Making Chief IC a subordinate to Govt The Act and Rules of 2019 have the effect of indoctrinating complete subordination into the institution of the information commission, making …

Government notifies new RTI rules
5 years, 2 months ago

Government notifies new RTI rules

The Hindu  

The government on Thursday notified new rules under the Right to Information Act that reduced the tenure of information commissioners from five years to three, something which activists on Friday said would affect their independence. The Right to Information Rules, 2019 notified by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions set the tenure of information commissioners at three years …

RTI (Amendment) Bill passed in RS: BJP sought stronger law when in Opposition, wants to weaken it now, says ex-CIC Shailesh Gandhi
5 years, 5 months ago

RTI (Amendment) Bill passed in RS: BJP sought stronger law when in Opposition, wants to weaken it now, says ex-CIC Shailesh Gandhi

Firstpost  

The Right to Information Bill, 2019, introduced by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Jitendra Singh, in the ongoing session of Parliament, has a section of Opposition parties and transparency activists up in arms. Firstly, the amendment lays down that the Central government will decide the term of office for the chief information commissioner and information …

Amendment may impair the right to information
5 years, 5 months ago

Amendment may impair the right to information

Deccan Chronicle  

The Right to Information Act was enacted in June 2005, and came into force in October the same year. The Act has been working fairly smoothly since 2005, and has rightly been used to uncover corruption and administrative ineptitude in government, apart from assisting ordinary people in getting their due from public authorities. Embarrassment was also caused to the government …

It's 'RTI Elimination Bill', Says Dr Shashi Tharoor On RTI Amendment
5 years, 5 months ago

It's 'RTI Elimination Bill', Says Dr Shashi Tharoor On RTI Amendment

Live Law  

During the Lok Sabha discussion on the Right to Information Act Bill 2019, Dr. Shahsi Tharoor heavily criticized it, by terming it 'RTI Elimination Bill'.He said that changing the fixed tenure of the Information Commissioners, and making their service conditions subject to the executive rules to be framed by the Central Government will undermine their autonomy and. "Now through the …

Amendment to RTI Act will compromise autonomy of information commissions, undermine status of commissioners, say ex-officials
5 years, 5 months ago

Amendment to RTI Act will compromise autonomy of information commissions, undermine status of commissioners, say ex-officials

Firstpost  

The Right to Information Bill, 2019 proposes to give the Centre the powers to set the salaries and service conditions of information commissioners at the central and state levels. After the amendment to the RTI Act, the information commissioners will be totally dependent on the government for tenure and salaries, Acharyulu said. Wajahat Habibullah, the first chief information commissioner, claimed …

Anna Hazare accuses Narendra Modi govt of ‘betraying’ people after Lok Sabha passes RTI Amendment bill
5 years, 5 months ago

Anna Hazare accuses Narendra Modi govt of ‘betraying’ people after Lok Sabha passes RTI Amendment bill

Firstpost  

A day after the Lok Sabha passed amendments to the Right to Information Act, social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday accused the Union government of betraying Indian citizens through the move. Pune: A day after the Lok Sabha passed amendments to the Right to Information Act, social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday accused the Union government of betraying Indian citizens …

Two Former CICs Explain How Amendment To RTI Is Breaking Backbone Of Information Commissioners
5 years, 5 months ago

Two Former CICs Explain How Amendment To RTI Is Breaking Backbone Of Information Commissioners

Live Law  

The Union Government's plan to amend the Right to Information Act is mainly to alter the salary structure and tenure of Information Commissioners and weaken all the Information Commissioners and Commissions both at Centre and States. No consultation or debate Ignoring all these suggestions and discussions and report by Parliamentary Standing Committee, the Government says that RTI Act 2005 was …

Subverting the RTI regime
5 years, 5 months ago

Subverting the RTI regime

The Hindu  

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 …

Lok Sabha passes RTI Amendment Bill: Here is what you need to know
5 years, 5 months ago

Lok Sabha passes RTI Amendment Bill: Here is what you need to know

India TV News  

A bill proposing to give the Centre the power to set the tenure and salaries of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday amid strong objection from the Opposition. Moving the bill, which was tabled in the house on July 19, for passage, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Jitendra …

Opposition slams govt over RTI Amendment bill, says govt planning to make transparency panel a 'toothless tiger'
5 years, 5 months ago

Opposition slams govt over RTI Amendment bill, says govt planning to make transparency panel a 'toothless tiger'

Firstpost  

“The RTI Bill, 2019, is a deliberate attempt to undermine the RTI Act and make it toothless tiger like National Human Rights Commission,” Congress leader Shashi Tharoor alleged New Delhi: The opposition on Friday slammed the government in Lok Sabha over the provisions of a bill to amend the Right to Information Act, alleging it has been brought to undermine …

RTI Amendment bill moved for consideration, passage in Lok Sabha; Centre says it's aimed at 'streamlining' of information commission
5 years, 5 months ago

RTI Amendment bill moved for consideration, passage in Lok Sabha; Centre says it's aimed at 'streamlining' of information commission

Firstpost  

Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh moved the RTI amendment bill for consideration and passage in Lok Sabha on Monday saying it is aimed at streamlining and institutionalising the functioning of information commission. New Delhi: Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh moved the RTI amendment bill for consideration and passage …

The tremor of unwelcome amendments to the RTI Act
5 years, 5 months ago

The tremor of unwelcome amendments to the RTI Act

The Hindu  

“Amendments” have haunted the Right to Information community ever since the RTI Act came into effect almost 14 years ago. In the form of the Right to Information Bill, 2019, they seek to amend Sections 13, 16, and 27 of the RTI Act which carefully links, and thereby equates, the status of the Central Information Commissioners with the Election Commissioners …

RTI Act: Stick to deadlines, PIOs told
5 years, 6 months ago

RTI Act: Stick to deadlines, PIOs told

Deccan Chronicle  

Thanjavur: The State Information Commissioner R. Pratap Kumar warned Public Information Officers that they would be punished if they do not give information to people who seek information under the Right to Information Act within 30 days of receiving the petition. Speaking at a meeting to create awareness about the act and its provisions and rules to be followed in …

Agenda for new government: Protecting right to information
5 years, 7 months ago

Agenda for new government: Protecting right to information

India Today  

The significance of access to information about the government's functioning can't be over-emphasised. So much so that while hearing the government's "stolen documents" claims in the Rafale case, the Supreme Court made the Attorney General KK Venugopal read out three sections of the RTI Act in the open court - section 22 which overrides the Official Secrets Act ; section …

Details Such As Names Of MPs Signatory To Impeachment Motion Exempt From Disclosure Under RTI Act: CIC [Read Order]
5 years, 7 months ago

Details Such As Names Of MPs Signatory To Impeachment Motion Exempt From Disclosure Under RTI Act: CIC [Read Order]

Live Law  

Details of MPs who gave the Motion of Impeachment and who subsequently withdrew their names is exempt from disclosure under the RTI Act as it stands covered under Section 8 of the RTI Act, the Central Information Commission has held. Hence, disclosure of details of members who gave the Motion and some who subsequently withdrew their names under RTI may …

Central Info Commissioner Should Have The Status Of Chief Election Commissioner; Do Not Select Bureaucrats Only For The Post: SC
5 years, 10 months ago

Central Info Commissioner Should Have The Status Of Chief Election Commissioner; Do Not Select Bureaucrats Only For The Post: SC

Live Law  

The Supreme Court today issued a slew of directives regarding the filling up of vacancies in Central and State Information Commissions under Right To Information Act.The key directions passed by the bench of Justices A K Sikri and Abdul Nazeer are :Chief Information Commissioner should have the status of Chief Election CommissionersInformation Commissioners should not be just bureaucrats,. The Supreme …

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