AMENDEMENT IN RTI ACT ,2005 BY MODI GOVERNMENT

There has been a pressing demand for the inclusion of political parties under the ambit
of RTI considering the following reasons:


They have an important impact on the working of the government irrespective of the fact that the
party is ruling or in opposition. This gains more importance considering the fact that Indian
political system is heterogeneous and sometimes it is alleged that the political parties are keenly
representing a particular section on the cost of the whole country.
1. RTI in the political parties would also help the public to take rational decisions while
voting by judging the parties on the parameters of integrity, upkeep of internal
democracy in the party, participation of women and Dalits in the party ranks, etc.
2. It will also lead to (along with election reforms) decrease in corrupt practices related
to elections, due to better transparency and accountability.
3. Parties having such stakes in governance, people have the right to information
guaranteed under article 19. Also, The RPA, 1951, under Section 29A affirms the
allegiance of political parties to the constitution of India, which is compulsory.
4. Given the current state of party financing, where more than 75% of their income
comes from unknown sources, and a well-known fact about the involvement of black
money in party finances, bringing them under the RTI Act will ensure transparency
and may be a trigger for bigger party reforms
5. Presence of lobbying has made society fearful about the invisible hand behind many
pa.
CIC to decide RTI appeal even after death of applicant .
An RTI quiry must be responded to within 30 days but that does not means government offices have to
take all of them .

UNDER RULE 16:

Proceedure of non –complience must be filled under the three month from the date of non-complience .

UNDER RULE 17:

Provides for a single bench for dealing with issue of non-complience ,appeal etc.

With commission does not mention the time period for compling with its order ,the rules will presumes
a 30 days period for complience.

UNDER RULE 13-15

Laid down the procedure for filling the complain as well as procedure that commission must follow for
in deciding the complaint.

UNDER RULE 12

IN RTI act complainant have option to withdraw appeal before the final hearing by giving written and
oral request .
The death of the applicant the proceeding pending before the commission will abate.

UNDER RULE 13(1)

It implies that every complaint must be necessarily be proceeds by an RTI application without which
complaint is invalid.

AFFECTS OF THESE AMENDMENTS WHICH WEEKENED TO OUR RTI ACT,2005

* Putting word limit would result in more focused application and better provision of
information but how can you expect an illiterate people to follow such tight word limit and
every one is not capable of summerising his\her thought s so crisply.

*proof for below poverty line applicant :no fee for BPL provided a copy of certificate issued by
appropriate government inthis regarded ti submit along with application but due to error of
exclusion and inclusion lithere are many who get themselves under the inclusion list to reap
benefits of government scheme.

*Too many document asked for appeal to commission rules amended by the DopT.

*Amendment to rule 12 and controversy

It would allow the withdrawal of an application in case the applicant ‘s death ,making the job of
those who file RTIs even more risky.
The RTI activists are aleady exposed to violence ,all the more so as the whistle blowers
protection act Z(2011)is not implemented
69 activists have been killed ,according to national compaign for people’s right to information.

Violence against RTI activists

The state which have largest number of casualties are such rich states like maharastra,gujrat and
Karnataka .
Rich state are the most dangerous ones for RTIactivists because they fight against the
appropriation of public goods by predatory and vested interests ,whichare comparatively
stronger in affluent provinces.
Problrms pertaining to land ,legal construction and poverty disputes are the root cause of most
of the cases.
Then come conflicts due to government scheme (including MGNEREGA)either because those
who should have benefitted from them have not ,or because of embezzlement at local level.
The third category that is also well represented is made of illegal mining ,including the sand
mafia’s activists .

The tendering processfor setting up of an RTI call center is on .to be managed by private parties
,the proposed call center will help applicant who are filling RTI application.
 The number of application filled could be decrease if the frequently asked questions are
identified and other structural reform taken up.

Some of government agencies repeadely refusing to disclose the required information.

CHALLENGES FACED BY RTI ACT,2005

Information commission are burdend with huge pendencies .

The numberof application filed easily decrease ;if the frequently asked question were identified and
proactiveiy disclose information for those question .

But dealy and backlogs are also due to fact that job of information commissioner has become a post
retirement sinecure for former bureaucrats who do not necessarily feel the urge of idealism .

The attitude of the government of india is another big challenge ,some of its agencies refused to disclose
the required information .

In PMO,the rejectiom is very high .the commission does not have enough power for getting response to
its question .

It does not have the mechanisms for following up on whether its order have been complied with.

The information officers do not necessarily get the right .

POLITICAL ASPECT OF AMENDMENT IN RTI ACT ,2005

To minimize public and political interference in government work .

To gain political advantage .

To hide essential information from public ,which must suo moto be in public domain.

To avoid accountability in government and government aided organization .

Government does not want any negative publicity on issue like transpirancy.

To provide safeguard to corruption under the organization .