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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Citizens write to parliamentarians to oppose RTI amendments -Himanshi Dhawan

Citizens write to parliamentarians to oppose RTI amendments -Himanshi Dhawan

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published Published on Jul 24, 2013   modified Modified on Jul 24, 2013
-The Times of India


NEW DELHI: Eminent citizens including former Delhi high court chief justice A P Shah, former cabinet secretary TRS Subramanian and former information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi have urged parliamentarians not to sign amendments to the RTI act when it is tabled. The government plans to bring amendments to the act to exclude political parties.

The letter says that the RTI act has been used to uncover "certain arbitrariness and corruption" and has empowered ctizens. "The key principle in defining the bodies to be covered by the RTI Act was based on the movement's slogan, "Hamara Paisa, Hamra Hisab." Hence all Government bodies were covered by the RTI Act and also other Institutions which may be 'substantially funded' by government were covered. This was the Act passed by Parliament, based on which the CIC has passed an order," theletter said.

The citizens have said that if political parties feel that the CIC order is flawed, they should challenge it in court. "Parties have said that they are being monitored by the Election Commission and the Income Tax department, and hence they need not provide information to citizens. All Institutions including Parliament are legitimized to be intermediaries on behalf of 'We the People'. None of these can replace the people of India," the letter argued.

The activists said that subjecting themselves to RTI had not damaged any institution. "It is true that there is a trust deficit between citizens and political leaders. RTI will overcome this, and lead to a better understanding of the working of various political parties. It will lead to citizens making a more informed choice of political parties during elections. Besides, it will promote better and systematic functioning of the political parties, once they subject themselves to monitoring by the people they seek to serve. I am sure you are concerned with the decline in the levels of probity in public service. This is an opportunity to reverse this and start the journey towards a more meaningful service of people," the letter said urging parliamentarians to work with citizens in reforming the political scenario.


The Times of India, 23 July, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Citizens-write-to-parliamentarians-to-oppose-RTI-amendments/articleshow/21280715.cms


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