RTI amendment Bill unlikely this session

The government has more or less given up the idea of bringing the Right to Information amendment Bill that seeks to keep file notings out of the purview of the Act this Monsoon Session. With the Left refusing to fall in line and the BJP playing footsie with the Left, especially the CPIM on this, chances of getting the bill through seemed remote.

The government is also wary of referring the Bill to the standing committee as demanded by the Opposition and some Left leaders. A section of the Congress has also been backing the move to send the Bill for a re-look at the standing committee. Hemmed in by the Left-Right combine on one side and the growing activism opposing the amendment across the country on the other, sources said, the Congress would rather not risk the entire goodwill it gained by making the Right to Information a reality.

Despite the Cabinet nod to the Bill over a week ago, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, blaming the Opposition, said: 8220;Where is the time to table the Bill? We have very little time because of the repeated adjournments.8221; However, sources said, no breakthrough could be achieved in the talks the government was holding with the Left despite having roped in the West Bengal and Kerala chief ministers 8212; who are supporting their bureaucracies to keep file notings out of the Act.

A group of NGOs has already petitioned President Kalam against the government8217;s move to amend the RTI Act on the ground that it will not only kill the Act but also make it an ineffective tool against delay of governmental work. However, the government has its defence 8212; no major country allows 8220;full access8221; to file notings.