-The Hindustan Times It is a small step that can add up to a big change. A government department has started putting online important policy files relating to the right to information law, beginning with documents that provide an insight into selection of central information commissioners. “We have received approval to upload all important files on the site — persmin.nic.in — once the final decision has been taken and the matter is...

-The Times of India Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra on Saturday lamented that public authorities have failed to make crucial pro-active disclosures despite seven years of the implementation of the RTI Act. Referring to section four of the RTI Act which mandates public authorities to make Proactive Disclosures and organize records within 120 days of enactment of transparency law in 2005, Mishra said these statutory provisions haven't been complied with even...

-PTI In a move aimed at increasing transparency, the Centre on Tuesday asked all its ministries to make public details of official foreign and domestic tours undertaken by ministers and senior officers. The details will include nature of the official tour, places visited, the period, number of people included in the official delegation and total cost of such travel undertaken by a minister or senior officers. The "suo motu" decision was taken after...

Alarmed by its proactive role, the three ‘pillars’ of our democracy set out to weaken the fourth estate Fundamentalisms do not necessarily announce their arrival by banging a hammer on our heads. Freedoms are often lost in little steps. The process creeps in quietly but insidiously. The path is often complex and defies a simple narrative. But here’s a straightforward fact: a concerted attempt is being made to censor, control...

-The Times of India   In an open house organised at the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA), the police and citizens came face to face on the issue of transparency in police stations and the need for Proactive Disclosures under RTI Act. This meet was jointly organised by Society for Women Action And Training Initiative (SWATI) and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) on Thursday.  The meet agreed that the RTI Act can become an...