Civil society groups to protest proposed amendments to RTI

New Delhi, Nov 10 : The National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) along with other civil society groups has charged the government with planning to 'emasculate' the Right to Information (RTI) Act by bringing in amendments and is organising a day-long protest here Saturday against the alleged move.

RTI activists have alleged that the government is planning to weaken the RTI Act by bringing in amendments such as introduction of an exemption for "vexatious and frivolous" applications and excluding "discussion/ consultations that take place before arriving at a decision".

The 'discussion and consultation' in other words are 'file notings' which the PMO had recently cleared are not exempted under RTI act. But the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the nodal department for handling RTI act, has over the years tried to exclude file notings under the RTI act.

The protestors will sign petitions to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi appealing to them to not amend the act.

"Last month we sent a letter to the prime minister requesting him to stop any plans of amending the RTI act. We are trying for an appointment with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Minister of State for Personnel Prithviraj Chauhan," Suchi Pande of NCPRI told IANS.

"We are also approaching Left parties and opposition members to support us and save RTI. Various national and Delhi-based organizations would take part in the protest," she added.

In the letter to Manmohan Singh, eminent citizens from all walks of life have urged the government to abandon the move to amend the RTI Act and requested that a public debate be initiated on the problems that it might be facing in implementing the RTI Act.

"Only through such a public debate can a lasting and credible way be found to strengthen the RTI regime," said a NCPRI statement.

The act passed by the central government in 2005 recently completed four years.

"It has been used extensively by citizens to put out in the public domain information related to public policy, human rights issues and systemic inefficiencies. Yet, the Government of India is proposing new amendments to the RTI Act," the statement added.

"These amendments are not to strengthen the law or improve its implementation. On the contrary, and despite repeated assurances from the Minister, DoPT and the government of India, the proposed amendments, if introduced, will emasculate the RTI Act," the statement added.