Charges will make RTI Act more transparent, says PMO

The controversy over the curtailment of the right to access file notings via the Right to Information Act seems to be misplaced.

The controversy over the curtailment of the right to access file notings via the Right to Information Act seems to be misplaced. In fact, the so-called 8216;striking down8217; of the right to access notings on government files by the Union Cabinet last week, was actually what would allow access to file notings, the PMO has clarified.

Facing widespread criticism, PM Manmohan Singh8217;s office today issued an exhaustive clarification to point out that the changes were not 8216;8216;retrogressive8217;8217; and the criticism was 8216;8216;misplaced8217;8217; and based on 8216;8216;an incomplete knowledge of facts.8217;8217;

Eight months ago, despite the PMO8217;s announcement, the government had discovered that allowing access to file notings by changing the rules would not be possible, as changes in rules would need amendments to the RTI act itself. Hence, the Cabinet8217;s view was sought to be taken to enable the amendment to be brought, allowing for these notings to come under the RTI Act. The entire process, took eight long months to take the form of a Cabinet Note.

What the Cabinet did last week was to actually allow those file notings to be accessed, which had a bearing on development and social issues, exactly as decreed in the PMO8217;s announcement in December.

The PMO8217;s announcement also restricts the notings to be made public to be limited to 8216;8216;plans, schemes, programmes and projects of the Government that relate to development and social issues.8217;8217;

The PMO8217;s original note also keeps out all those matters which fall under Clause 8 of the RTI Act the clause that makes exceptions to where information would not be made available.

The PMO today came out with another statement attempting to clarify matters, saying that 8216;8216;The disclosure of file notings on the most important and vast bulk of Government activities has now become possible for the first time. This was not possible before. It is thus not a case of retrogression. This is a positive step forward.8217;8217;Despite the disclosure of 8216;8216;file notings8217;8217; being opposed by various experts and officials, 8216;8216;the UPA government has remained committed to the principles of greater transparency and accountability in the public decision-making process,8217;8217; the PMO says.

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8216;8216;Only a small portion of file notings now remain exempted from disclosure 8212; related to subjects that are already exempted under the Act and to personnel-related matters like examination, assessment and evaluation for recruitment, disciplinary proceedings, etc,8217;8217; the PMO added.

However, the day saw RTI activists enraged about what they saw as the curtailment of the scope of the law. Social activist Anna Hazare wrote to the PM on this and former member of the NAC Aruna Roy pointed out that taking away the right to access notings was to 8216;8216;turn the basis of the freedom given under the RTI Act upside down and inside out.8217;8217;