RTI bill on pol parties deferred till winter session

NDTV/PTI, NEW DELHI | 05 September 2013 18:00 IST

A bill seeking to amend the Right To Information (RTI) Act to shield political parties from providing information under the transparency law has been referred to Parliament's select committee for further consideration.

"The government has decided that there should be more discussion on this Bill. We will bring this Bill in Parliament in the Winter Session," said V Narayanasamy, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill 2013 was introduced on August 12 in the Lok Sabha by Mr Narayanasamy but could not be discussed amid repeated adjournments in Parliament. 

The Union Cabinet had last month cleared a proposal to amend the RTI Act to give immunity to political parties and negate a Central Information Commission (CIC) order to this effect.

Many RTI activists have opposed the proposed amendments. Aruna Roy, a former member of the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council and met the PM in this regard.

Sources say Ms Gandhi changed her mind after Ms Roy's comments and said there should be more consideration. There were also, reportedly,  multiple views within the Congress party. 

Some politicians like BJD's Jay Panda have questioned why political parties should be kept out of RTI Act's ambit. 

The CIC had, in its order on June 3, held that the six national parties- the  Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, the NCP, CPI-M, CPI and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party - have been substantially funded indirectly by the central government and were required to appoint public information officers as they have the character of a public authority under the RTI Act.

The order had evoked sharp reactions from political parties, especially the Congress,  which has been credited with bringing in the transparency law.

The government has proposed an amendment in Section 2 of the act, which defines public authority, to shield the political parties.


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Previous Comments

RTI is the best thing to happen to the common man, where common man can make accountability for the Corrupt Government Officials corrupt practices and arrogant behavior. They should be told that this common man pay your Salary. Respect this Common Man. Finish their work within days or weeks and not in months.

- John Ferns, Goa | 07 th September 2013 19:35

 

RTI IS THE ENEMY OF CORRUPTIONS.

- JOSE ROD, GOA | 06 th September 2013 14:06

 

All the political parties in the country need to come under the ambit of the Right to Information Act.

There should be total transparency and let the people know what is happening in the political parties.

- Francisco, Goa | 06 th September 2013 11:38

 

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