-The Economic Times   Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for a review of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, one of the UPA's trophy legislations, potentially exposing the government to a fresh stand-off with civil society. Addressing a two-day annual convention of the Central Information Commission here, Singh said the transparency law should not adversely affect deliberative processes in the government and discourage honest, well-meaning public servants from voicing their views. He...

The Centre is preparing to water down the Official Secrets Act, 1923, a pre-colonial tool against spying that successive governments are accused of taking cover under when faced with questions of corruption. Amendments are being worked out after several ministries, including that of defence, responded to a note circulated by the home ministry in August, sources said. The Prime Minister today said the RTI Act is being “more extensively and effectively” used...

-The Times of India   Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday endorsed the concerns of his ministerial colleagues over Right To Information (RTI), saying the transparency enabler should not adversely affect deliberations in the government and deter honest officials from expressing their views on file. While hailing RTI's extensive use and underlining his government's intent to strengthen the law, the PM said there was a need to strike a fine balance between the...

-DNA   The Bombay High Court has stayed an order passed by the State Information Commission (SIC) which stated that Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (R-Infra), the Anil Ambani-led company, is also covered under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. A division bench of Justice BH Marlapalle and Justice Nishita Mhatre granted an interim stay and directed the government to file a reply in eight weeks while hearing an appeal filed by R-Infra against the...

A draft Bill aimed at redressing complaints against junior government officials is likely to be introduced in the winter session of Parliament to check graft at the lowest level, where most citizens interact with the administration. The proposed Public Services Grievance Redressal Bill will be available to the public for comments and feedback before it’s introduced in Parliament, rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said. The proposed law comes at a time when...