Protest against RTI Act change

Mumbai-based RTI activist Shailesh Gandhi,who was appointed the central information commissioner in 2008,said the proposed amendments would dilute the RTI Act. Gandhi spoke about some of the amendments the government is considering. For example,the amendments proposed to exempt file notings from disclosures,unless they are related to social or developmental issues. “By limiting access to file notings,the government will increase the scope of exemptions and impose unreasonable restrictions on the citizens’ fundamental right to information,” Gandhi said.

“The proposed amendments will also render the Central Information Commission (CIC) powerless to constitute separate benches.”

“This will increase the time required to clear cases manifold,” Gandhi said. The amendment also seeks to give the commission the right to deny information to applications that are ‘frivolous’ or ‘vexatious’.

“The terms are loosely defined and can give unlimited power to the government to reject RTI applications,” said Bhaskar Prabhu of the Mahiti Adhikar Manch.

According to Gandhi,around 5 per cent of the applications are vaguely worded. “Citizens should make their questions short and focused so that the government does not get a chance to introduce amendments,” Gandhi said.

Social activist Gerson D’Cunha said under the pretext of ‘strengthening’ the Act,the government is actually crippling it.

“The decision is politically driven. Therefore,our opposition also needs to be political in nature. We should regularly meet and visit our elected representatives to voice our demands,” D’Cunha said.

Gandhi admitted that his office is staff crunched. According to him,flooding his office with protest letters will not help avert new amendments to the Act.

“The protest has to reach policymakers and politicians. Therefore,a public forum or a protest mechanism needs to be created where public voice can reach top politicians and ministers,” Gandhi said.