Why were two tribals and the Essar group framed by the Chhattisgarh police? Why are Soni Sori and Linga Kodopi being systematically silenced? This chilling story of one family reveals more about India's Naxal crisis than any official document can. AS I sit to write this, at 12.20 pm on 4 October 2011, an SMS pops up on my phone: “Soni Sori has been arrested by the Delhi Crime Branch.” The...
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NCPRI brainstorms Grievance Redress, Whistleblower Protection by Vidya Subrahmanianm
The National Campaign for the People's Right to Information (NCPRI), which — along with other civil society groups — held a two-day convention here on its draft Bills on Grievance Redress and Whistleblower Protection, has urged the government immediately to put up the drafts for wide public consultation. Earlier this year, the NCPRI unveiled a “Basket of Lokpal measures” intended to address corruption and grievances relating to delivery of services. Among...
More »RTI under threat due to pendency of second appeals, says CIC Gandhi
-Daily Bhaskar On Saturday, Central Information Commissioner (CIC) Shailesh Gandhi said that the Right To Information (RTI) was under threat due to the increasing number of appeals pending before information commissioners in the country. He was speaking as chief guest at a regional workshop sponsored by the directorate of personnel and training on 'Proactive disclosures: the way forward'. The workshop was organised by Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (Yashada). Delegates from...
More »RTI-rattled UPA writes to all: no need to be pro-active in giving information by Manoj CG
At a time when it is being regularly embarrassed via information disclosed through the Right to Information Act — the latest being the Finance Ministry’s controversial note on 2G — a wary UPA has issued a circular to all states, ministries and departments asking them not to draw “inferences” or make “assumptions” or provide “opinion” or “advice” in RTI replies. Citing a Supreme Court ruling in an RTI-related case, the two-page...
More »Third party opinion must for RTI info
-The Times of India Delhi high court on Friday interpreted a key provision of the Right To Information Act and said the affected party's objections must be sought in case an RTI applicant seeks information relating to a third party. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna upheld Section 11 of the RTI Act and said information relating to or issued by a third party should...
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