Present Condition Of RTI

  

Right To Information & Changes

The recent amendment,  Right To Information (Amendment) Bill 2019 changes the two most essential aspects of RTI i.e tenure and allowances of Central Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioner.

The Right To Information Act 2005, was enacted to mandate timely response to citizens for government information of India as well as State government. The amendment which took place changes the very basic structure of RTI by curbing and curtailing the permanent tenure and allowances of CIC & SICs.

While introducing the bill in Lok Sabha Minister of State Prime Minister's office Mr Jitendra Singh stated, few anomalies have been modified for greater accountability and transparency.

Earlier the Central Information Commissioner gets equal remuneration and immunity as par Chief Election Commissioner and State Information Commissioner as par State Election Commissioner like tenure for 5 years or up to the age of 65 years whichever is earlier.

Bill cited that the work of the Election Commission is totally different from the Central Information Commission. As Election Commission is Constitutional body while the Central Information Commission and State Information Commission is a statutory body established by the Right To Information Act 2005.

The bill is widely criticized by various public figure and parliamentarians as well. Shashi Tharoor well-known author and member of parliament from the Constituency of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala said, "The bill is removing the two greatest armours of institutional independence". UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said, RTI on the brink of extinction, government disempowering every Indian citizen. Some MP called the amendment "RTI elimination Bill".

The also altering the federal features of our Constitution by determining allowances of State Information Commissioner as they are paid by the State government.

The overall perspective towards amendment, every government when ruling doesn't want any kind of insecurity towards their regime whether it affects transparency or accountability, they actually see themselves as sovereign to every institution and want full control of every commission, institution and department to protect their interest, position and prestige.

 When the Act was enacted in 2005 its sole purpose was to empower the public by providing the right information and making democracy more strong, independent and supreme.