Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 73
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
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 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
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deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::printArticle() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 73
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Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
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Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
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Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 74
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
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 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
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deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::printArticle() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 74
Cake\Controller\Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 610
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 94
Cake\Http\BaseApplication::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/BaseApplication.php, line 235
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/RoutingMiddleware.php, line 162
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php, line 88
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Code Context
            if (Configure::read('debug')) {

                trigger_error($message, E_USER_WARNING);

            } else {
$response = object(Cake\Http\Response) {

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</span></span></code>
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-Down to Earth&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;The National Democratic Alliance government&#039;s move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority &amp;mdash; the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) &amp;mdash; initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read more. &lt;br /&gt;
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-Down to Earth

The National Democratic Alliance government&#039;s move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu

Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it...&#039;,
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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;The National Democratic Alliance government&#039;s move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority &amp;mdash; the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) &amp;mdash; initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read more. &lt;br /&gt;
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The National Democratic Alliance government&#039;s move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu

Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it...&#039;
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-Down to Earth

The National Democratic Alliance government's move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu

Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it..."/>
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                <strong>RTI amendment: Usurping powers from Legislature and States -M Sridhar Acharyulu</strong></h1>
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                <div align="justify">-Down to Earth<br /><br /><em>The National Democratic Alliance government's move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu<br /></em><br />Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers.<br /><br />The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order.<br /><br />Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers.<br /><br />I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act?<br /><br />Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all.<br /><br />And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure.<br /><br />The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up.<br /><br />The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority &mdash; the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) &mdash; initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage.<br /><br />Please <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955" title="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955">click here</a> to read more. <br /></div>               </font>
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-Down to Earth&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;The National Democratic Alliance government&#039;s move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority &amp;mdash; the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) &amp;mdash; initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read more. &lt;br /&gt;
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-Down to Earth

The National Democratic Alliance government&#039;s move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu

Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it...&#039;,
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-Down to Earth&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;The National Democratic Alliance government&#039;s move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority &amp;mdash; the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) &amp;mdash; initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read more. &lt;br /&gt;
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The National Democratic Alliance government&#039;s move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu

Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it...&#039;
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-Down to Earth

The National Democratic Alliance government's move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu

Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it..."/>
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                <strong>RTI amendment: Usurping powers from Legislature and States -M Sridhar Acharyulu</strong></h1>
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                <div align="justify">-Down to Earth<br /><br /><em>The National Democratic Alliance government's move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu<br /></em><br />Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers.<br /><br />The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order.<br /><br />Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers.<br /><br />I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act?<br /><br />Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all.<br /><br />And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure.<br /><br />The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up.<br /><br />The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority &mdash; the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) &mdash; initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage.<br /><br />Please <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955" title="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955">click here</a> to read more. <br /></div>               </font>
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-Down to Earth&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;The National Democratic Alliance government&#039;s move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority &amp;mdash; the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) &amp;mdash; initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read more. &lt;br /&gt;
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-Down to Earth

The National Democratic Alliance government&#039;s move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu

Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it...&#039;,
	&#039;disp&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;-Down to Earth&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;The National Democratic Alliance government&#039;s move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority &amp;mdash; the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) &amp;mdash; initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955&quot; title=&quot;https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read more. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
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-Down to Earth&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;The National Democratic Alliance government&#039;s move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority &amp;mdash; the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) &amp;mdash; initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read more. &lt;br /&gt;
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-Down to Earth

The National Democratic Alliance government&#039;s move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu

Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it...&#039;
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The National Democratic Alliance government's move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu

Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it..."/>
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                <strong>RTI amendment: Usurping powers from Legislature and States -M Sridhar Acharyulu</strong></h1>
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                <div align="justify">-Down to Earth<br /><br /><em>The National Democratic Alliance government's move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu<br /></em><br />Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers.<br /><br />The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order.<br /><br />Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers.<br /><br />I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act?<br /><br />Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all.<br /><br />And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure.<br /><br />The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up.<br /><br />The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority &mdash; the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) &mdash; initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage.<br /><br />Please <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955" title="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955">click here</a> to read more. <br /></div>               </font>
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-Down to Earth<br />
<br />
<em>The National Democratic Alliance government's move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu<br />
</em><br />
Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers.<br />
<br />
The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order.<br />
<br />
Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers.<br />
<br />
I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act?<br />
<br />
Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all.<br />
<br />
And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure.<br />
<br />
The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up.<br />
<br />
The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority &mdash; the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) &mdash; initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage.<br />
<br />
Please <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955">click here</a> to read more. <br />
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Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it...',
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-Down to Earth<br />
<br />
<em>The National Democratic Alliance government's move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu<br />
</em><br />
Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers.<br />
<br />
The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order.<br />
<br />
Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers.<br />
<br />
I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act?<br />
<br />
Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all.<br />
<br />
And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure.<br />
<br />
The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up.<br />
<br />
The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority &mdash; the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) &mdash; initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage.<br />
<br />
Please <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955">click here</a> to read more. <br />
</div>',
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$metaTitle = 'LATEST NEWS UPDATES | RTI amendment: Usurping powers from Legislature and States -M Sridhar Acharyulu'
$metaKeywords = 'Amendments to RTI Act,Central Information Commission,Right to Information,Right to Information Act,RTI Act,transparency,State Information Commissions'
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-Down to Earth

The National Democratic Alliance government's move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu

Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it...'
$disp = '<div align="justify">-Down to Earth<br /><br /><em>The National Democratic Alliance government's move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu<br /></em><br />Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers.<br /><br />The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order.<br /><br />Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers.<br /><br />I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act?<br /><br />Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all.<br /><br />And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure.<br /><br />The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up.<br /><br />The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority &mdash; the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) &mdash; initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage.<br /><br />Please <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955" title="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/rti-amendment-usurping-powers-from-legislature-and-states-65955">click here</a> to read more. <br /></div>'
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RTI amendment: Usurping powers from Legislature and States -M Sridhar Acharyulu

-Down to Earth The National Democratic Alliance government's move is an assault on the independence of information commissioners, writes former Central Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu Alas! I thought the Narendra Modi government is strong enough after its re-election. But now it is scared of the Right to Information (RTI) and the Chief Information Commission (CIC), as if they are monsters who can harm the power of the powerful rulers. The Information Commissioner in India, under the RTI Act, is little more than a toothless institution. Though it is on a par with the Central Election Commissioner and judges of the Supreme Court, it is so weak that it cannot enforce its own order. Though they have independence, most commissioners could not come out of their nurtured culture of secrecy; which indelibly sunk in their DNA for decades while working as civil servants before they shifted to transparency duties as a great favour done by the rulers. I really do not understand whether the government is scared or are the bureaucratic personalities, who appeared dazed because 60-70 lakh people every year seek information about their functions; whether the government has succumbed to pressure from corrupt babus to finish the RTI Act? Right to Information is totally limited to seeking a copy of a paper lying in the files of government offices. That is all. And the CIC can, at the worst, issue a show-cause notice to public information officers (PIO) to impose a penalty of a maximum Rs 25,000. The commission does not even have the power of a Central Administrative Tribunal. It is so weak that it cannot enforce its order of disclosure. The Government has waged a war, used its think tank, charged its lobbying power, sought help from regional parties, and strategically gave no time to MPs to read and prepare their opposition to the Bill. It pushed the legislation with great rush: Until it appeared on the business scheduled in Parliament, none knew that the Bill would come up. The three powerful regional parties who defeated the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in recent elections with substantive majority — the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the YSR Congress Party (Andhra Pradesh) and the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha) — initially opposed the Bill in Lok Sabha, but added their strength to the NDA in Rajya Sabha, resulting in its smooth passage. Please click here to read more.