Opposition Not Happy with BJP’s Proposed Changes to RTI Act

The government, on 18 July, said it is considering a proposal to amend the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

(Photo: The Quint)

Congress President Rahul Gandhi, on 19 July, attacked the BJP government over proposed changes to the Right to Information Act, saying that the party will render the law useless. His concern was echoed by several members of the Opposition and activists who felt the proposed changes will weaken the present RTI Act.

WHAT HAPPENED

The government, on 18 July, said it is considering a proposal to amend the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 to frame rules on salaries and services of Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners (ICs).

WHAT WE KNOW

A notice of intention has been given to introduce 'The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill 2018' in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage during the current session of Parliament, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

WHAT IS THE OPPOSITION SAYING

• Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “Every Indian has the right to know the truth. The BJP believes the truth must be hidden from the people and they must not question people in power. The changes proposed to the RTI will make it a useless Act. They must be opposed by every Indian.”

• National Spokesperson of Congress Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted: “We all know why Modi Sarkar is against the RTI, because it reveals some unpleasant truths about the PM. For eg spending Rs 4500 crores for self publicity and zero spending for development of 4 villages he adopted in Varanasi.”

• CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted: “Modi government wants to completely destroy our right to know anything. After all, how else will jumlas and fudged data be pushed, if the truth is allowed to come out.”

WHAT ARE THE ACTIVISTS SAYING

• “Proposed Amendments Will Weaken the Act”: Lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan tweeted a video explaining “how the proposed RTI amendment will destroy the Independence of the Information Commission & weaken the Act.”

• “Proposed Amendments Will Destroy Independence of Information Commissions”: RTI Activist Anjali Bhardwaj shared the press release of the proposed RTI Act 2018 and wrote, “Proposed amendments to RTI Act will completely destroy independence of info commissions. Central govt usurping power to decide tenure, salaries & allowances of even State info commissioners- exposes jumla of 'cooperative federalism'. ”

WHAT DOES THE PRESENT ACT SAY

The RTI Act statutorily protects the salaries and tenures of CIC and ICs which are the same as that of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner.

WHAT DOES THE PROPOSED BILL SAY

According to the proposed amendment, the salaries, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the CICs and ICs "shall be such as may be prescribed by the central government".

(With PTI inputs)