Opposition slams proposal to hike RTI fees in Bihar

Patna, Nov 4 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar came in for criticism from opposition parties Wednesday for proposing a change in the fee structure of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, wherein a petitioner would have to pay Rs.10 per query instead of Rs.10 for any number of queries in his petition.

Nitish Kumar has proposed amendment to the RTI Act in Bihar and has proposed increasing the fees for seeking information through the RTI to Rs.10 per query.

Till now a petitioner could seek as many queries in his petition by paying Rs.10 only.

The opposition parties Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Congress and Left parties have criticised Nitish Kumar for proposing an change in the RTI rule in the state.

Opposition leaders alleged that Nitish Kumar was trying to dilute the RTI Act in Bihar to shield rampant corruption.

"It is a draconian amendment to discourage the common man from seeking information under the RTI Act," RJD leader Ram KIrpal Yadav said.

Another RJD leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan said that proposed amendment will defeat the very purpose of the RTI Act which is to bring transparency and accountability in the functioning of government offices.

"A petitioner seeking 10 queries from a government body on a single application will have to pay Rs.100 in place of Rs.10," Khan said.

Bihar state Congress chief Anil Kumar Sharma said the "move is anti-people".

--IANS