City activists oppose Central Govt’s RTI Act amendment

PUNE: The Central Government has proposed to amend the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, to change the term of office and service conditions of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioner (IC) at the Central as well as state levels. The activists are opposing the Bill, claiming this has dangerous implications.

Vinita Deshmukh, sa enior journalist and RTI activist, said, “The RTI Amendment Bill 2019, which was introduced on Friday, and is likely to be passed on Monday, is disastrous as it aims to make the position of central and state information commissioner, spineless.’’ 

That’s because their tenure which was earlier fixed for five years will, with this amendment, be unsure as the Central government will have the power to decide it. Which effectively means CICs who are ‘uncomfortable’ for the ruling government can be moved out as per the Centre’s whims and fancies. Also, the pay scale which was on par with the Supreme Court judges and Election Commissioner is now to be withdrawn and the government will decide the salaries.” 

She added, “Its contention is that they do not come under constitutional authority but statutory authority.” 

She further said, “This uncertainty would deter the best experts from the categories mentioned in the RTI Act to apply for the posts. Basically, the government wants stooges to work for it. Recently the PMO public authority was removed from the jurisdiction of former CIC Prof Sridhar Acharyulu because he ordered to provide information on Prime Minister Modi’s educational qualifications. Also, not a single CIC appointment has been made since 2014, except when the Supreme Court intervened.”

RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar said, “If the amendments suggested get approval, it will end the autonomy of the Act. In the current Act, the terms of service, salary etc have been decided for CIC and Information Commissioner. If the amendments are granted then their rights will come to an end.”

“According to section 13 (1) of the Act, the appointment of the commissioner is for five years and cannot take up the post for the second time. But now according to the amendment, the CIC will be decided by the Centre for a particular period of time. If this comes into force then the CIC would become the puppet at the hands of the government,” he said. Activist Vihar Durve termed RTI Act as fundamental right of every citizen of India. “It’s the most powerful transparency act in the world. I appeal to the government not to amend it,” he said. 

WHAT GOVERNMENT WANTS TO DO?
The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the RTI (Amendment) Bill, 2019 reasons that the functions being carried out by the Election Commission of India and the Central and State Information Commissions are “totally different”. While the Election Commission is a Constitutional body established under Article 324 of the Constitution of India for conducting elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures and to the office of the President and Vice President held under the Constitution, the Central and State Information Commissions are statutory bodies.

TWITTER CAMPAIGN
RTI activists across the country launched #DontAmendRTI campaign on social media including Twitter on Sunday. They tagged MPs, leaders of political parties asking them to not amend the RTI Act.