A Pyrrhic Victory
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: November 03, 2012 -
In a major relief to the RTI fraternity across the country, the Union Cabinet has finally bowed down to public pressures and decided to drop the controversial draft amendments to the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Although the draft amendments in question which proposed that file notings would not be disclosed except in cases of social and development projects and the evaluation procedure of selecting an individual for a Government office would be exempted from disclosure, were cleared by the Union Cabinet in 2006, public protests have always ensured that the proposed amendments were never taken up for passage in the Parliament.
However, after Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's assertion that "there are concerns about frivolous and vexatious use of the Act in demanding information disclosure of which cannot possibly serve any public purpose' during the annual convention of Information Commissioners on October 12 last, RTI activists across the country have been seething with anger.
They contended that it was a signal of support from the 'Highest quarters' to those keen on diluting the transparency law. Significantly, the observation of the Prime Minister too had come close behind the Supreme Court judgment mandating appointment of judges to the Information Commissioners.
National Campaign for Peoples' Right to Information (NCPRI), a platform of individuals and organizations committed to making the Indian government and society more transparent and accountable, has welcomed the decision of the Union Cabinet to withdraw the controversial draft amendments, hailing it as a victory for the people of India.
Indeed, dropping of the controversial draft amendments means that public can now retain their right to access file notings on any issue of governance barring certain areas such as national security.
However, this does not meant that the struggle for a more transparent and accountable governance in the country is over.
Instead of basking under this minor victory, RTI activists should now direct their attention over the confusion centering around the appointment of Information Commissioners.
The recent Supreme Court judgment for considering only someone from judiciary background for appointment to the post of Information Commissioners has stalled the working of many Information Commissions including that of our own State.
In such a situation, the victory over compelling the Union Cabinet to withdraw its decision on the proposed draft amendments to the Right to Information Act has paled into insignificance.
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