Activists protest amendment in RTI Act, petition President

Activists protest amendment in RTI Act, petition President

Parliament has passed the Bill amending the RTI Act amid objections by the Opposition which alleged that it was an attempt to undermine the law and make the transparency panel a “toothless tiger”.

AgenciesUpdated: Friday, August 02, 2019, 07:16 AM IST
article-image
RTI |

Mumbai: The recent amendment in the Right Information Act has upset RTI activists in Mumbai who have started sending dissent notes and expression of protest to public representatives on their mobile phones.

Parliament has passed the Bill amending the RTI Act amid objections by the Opposition which alleged that it was an attempt to undermine the law and make the transparency panel a “toothless tiger”.

The RTI amendment bill seeks to give the government powers to fix salaries, tenures and other terms and conditions of employment of information commissioners.

In a related development, Shailesh Gandhi, former Central Information Commissioner (CIC), had launched an online petition at portal Change.org, urging President Ram Nath Kovind to defend citizens fundamental rights and return the Bill for Parliaments reconsideration.

The petition had received 1,49,683 signatures till Thursday evening and it has been submitted to Kovind's office, he said. “I am appealing to you not to sign the RTI amendment Bill. I beseech you to send it back to Parliament for reconsideration.

This is a cherished right which has been codified by the RTI Act, 2005. It has been rated amongst the best transparency laws in the world,” Gandhi has said in the petition dated July 27.

(To receive our E-paper on WhatsApp daily, please click here.  To receive it on Telegram, please click here. We permit sharing of the paper's PDF on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.)

RECENT STORIES

Mumbai: HC relief for govt pleader, proceedings stayed till April 12 as court terms it 'witch hunt'

Mumbai: HC relief for govt pleader, proceedings stayed till April 12 as court terms it 'witch hunt'

Mumbai crime: Driver of Sonu Nigam’s father steals 72 lakh cash from home; arrested

Mumbai crime: Driver of Sonu Nigam’s father steals 72 lakh cash from home; arrested

New traffic diversions announced by Navi Mumbai police for Thane-Belapur Road; check details here

New traffic diversions announced by Navi Mumbai police for Thane-Belapur Road; check details here

Mumbai: Virar gang rape accused remanded till Monday

Mumbai: Virar gang rape accused remanded till Monday

114 villages in Raigad don't have cremation, burial grounds

114 villages in Raigad don't have cremation, burial grounds