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: 150
 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]
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: 151
 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]
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]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | RTI deadline for parties ends today -Himanshi Dhawan

RTI deadline for parties ends today -Himanshi Dhawan

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jul 15, 2013   modified Modified on Jul 15, 2013
-The Times of India


NEW DELHI: Political parties are unlikely to be rapped by the Central Information Commission (CIC) for missing its Monday deadline for appointing public information officers. Though the CIC has recognized parties as public authorities under the RTI Act, it does not have powers to take suo motu action in case of non-compliance, allowing the government at least 45 days to bring in amendments to the RTI Act and make the order redundant.

The CIC had on June 3 given six national political parties six weeks to appoint information officers and appellate authorities and make voluntary disclosures on their working. These parties are: Congress, BJP, BSP, NCP, CPI and CPM. However, not only have the parties not made any headway on this, they have shown rare solidarity on staying out of the RTI Act.

Chief information commissioner Satyananda Mishra said no action could be taken against the parties unless the commission received a complaint. "We cannot take suo motu cognizance. If, however, it is brought to the notice of the commission through a complaint of non-compliance of our directions, then we can start the process," he said.

According to the RTI Act, a public authority has 30 days to respond to the request. This means if an RTI request is placed before any of the six parties on Monday, the applicant can seek CIC's intervention in the matter only after a month. The commission will then issue a notice allowing at least 15 days for the parties to respond. This would give the government about 45 days till August-end to bring amendments to the Act either through Parliament or through an ordinance.

Though there have been lengthy discussions on the ordinance, government sources appear inclined to bring in a legislation in the monsoon session keeping in mind the unanimous support that the move enjoys. All six political parties have been vociferous in their opposition to the CIC order. Meanwhile, RTI activists and civil society members have criticized the "two-faced'' stand and shot off letters to the President, urging him not to sign any ordinance amending the Act.


The Times of India, 14 July, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/RTI-deadline-for-parties-ends-today/articleshow/21075130.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close