In a significant development, the
Cabinet today cleared the RTI Amendment Act and proposed that political parties
should be kept out of its ambit. But following was the press release by press
information bureau on 8 july 2009., when Prithviraj Chavan was Minister of
State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions. It seems
that assurance given by then state minister was
just a eyewash.
Amendment to RTI Act
Lok Sasbha
The Government proposes to
strengthen right to information by suitably amending the laws to provide for
disclosure by government in all non-strategic areas. In this regard, it is
proposed to review the number of organizations in the second schedule to the
Right to Information Act, 2005 and make rules for more disclosure of
information by public authorities.
Government has received
representations expressing doubts about the proposed amendments.
Non-Governmental Organisations and Social activists will be consulted on the
proposed amendments. However No time frame can be fixed for completion of the
process.
This information was given by the
Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances &
Pensions, Shri Prithviraj Chavan in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha
today (i.e. 8th july 2009 )
