-The Times of India The government is likely to incorporate significant Amendments to the whistleblowers protection Bill that will keep matters pertaining to national security, public order, Cabinet papers and foreign relations outside the Bill's purview. The exemptions can be seen as a "dilution" of the Bill by activists, but are seen to be necessary after it was pointed out that revealing sensitive details regarding national security could become "lawful" if provisions...

-Deccan Herald Proposed Amendment criticised for being harsh on applicants A proposed Amendment in the Right to Information Act may end up diluting the Act, according to an RTI activist.  The Amendment will make it mandatory for an appellant to be present in person or send a representative during case hearing by the Centre of Information Centre (CIC). “The appellant may be present in person, through an authorised representative or through video conferencing at...

-The Pioneer Plans to gag babus in amended Bill The UPA Government is mulling on bringing Amendments to the Whistle Blowers Protection Bill, which is pending in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha in the last Winter Session without any debate. According to sources, the Amendments will dilute the spirit of the Bill by stripping the status of whistleblowers to officials who tried to use Government documents like Cabinet...

-The Indian Express Mumbai: The amended Maharashtra Right to Information (RTI) Rules have not been issued for curtailing the freedom of expression of citizens or to harass them, the state government told the Bombay High Court on Thursday. The government stand, stated in an affidavit, came in response to a public interest litigation challenging restrictions pertaining to word limit and of limiting one application for information to one subject. The affidavit was...

The Guwahati molestation incident throws light on the violence women face overtly and covertly in India, at home and outside. The shocking incident of the beating and molestation of a young woman by a mob in Guwahati in Assam on July 9 has exposed the ugly underbelly of modern, globalised India, where women face violence, covertly and overtly, at home and outside. The incident has also exposed the lackadaisical manner in...