RTI Act: Empowering Indian Citizens and Ensuring Accountability
The Right to Information (RTI) Act in India has provided citizens with a powerful tool to expose corruption and promote transparency in governance. This Act has led to significant reforms and discussions on issues such as judicial accountability and political party transparency. Efforts are needed to improve the functioning of the Central Information Commission to address late hearings and streamline decision-making processes. Implementing RTI Mediation Clinics and adopting Lok Adalat mechanisms can help clear the backlog of RTI petitions.
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Presentation Transcript
RTI ACT PROVIDES SECOND FREEDOM TO CITIZENS OF INDIA: MISUSE MUST BE PREVENTED By: Subhash Chandra Agrawal RTI Activist
Preliminary RTI Act has given Indian citizens a second freedom making them empowered even more than Parliamentarians RTI Act has done wonders in exposing scams, scandals and irregularities in the system; eye- opener for the government to reform the system Induced an era of transparency and accountability in governance system and enriched public exchequer with enormous amount of money RTI Act acted as a curative medicine File-notings under purview of RTI Act
Judiciary set to become accountable: RTI Act induced a healthy discussion on judicial accountability paving way for legislation on judicial appointments RTI Act and political parties: the central government has advocated that political parties are not under RTI Act- therefore, the central government should immediately stop all direct or indirect government funding to political parties No land allotment at subsidized cost to political parties Abolish all income tax exemptions on contribution made to and received by political parties political parties be made accountable to public through RTI Act
Faulty functioning at Central Information Commission: Every effort should be made to reduce late hearings, yet it may not be practically possible to fix any deadline to fix dates of hearings File-notings made by legal interns and Commissioners should be part of record Ideal practice-dictating verdicts during the hearing itself with other details pre-typed on desktops Verdicts may be reserved only in exceptional cases- with a limit of 1 week for single bench decisions and 1 month for full bench/ division bench verdicts after completion of hearing Altogether new CIC website needed with an advanced appeal/ complaint (appcom) locator system New CIC website to incorporate a portal on lines of www.pgportal.gov.in
RTI Mediation Clinics can fast clear the backlog of RTI Petitions at CIC Prime Minister s Advice at CIC Convention should be followed in practice Similar mechanism as Lok Adalats organized by National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) be Putting maximum information on website and adopted at Central Information Commission follow up study of important points raised in RTI consisting of Collegiums of RTI experts from civil petitions even after responding to petitions society and former Commissioners; Suo moto disclosure which is mandatory under Such collegiums to be later utilized as RTI aid clinics section 4 (1) by public authorities can reduce Computerized database in different formats be the number of RTI petitions prepared to track a consolidated list of all petitions; Best is to legislate Right to Services & first hearing on any petition should be taken as Grievances Bill 2014 on lines of RTI Act interim hearing with a second date fixed for ensuring compliance of directions
Timely appointment of Information Commissioners with Short Term Chiefs avoided Best is to adopt a system whereby Commissioners at CIC may become Chief Information Commissioner according to seniority for one year Put all details of travel and medical reimbursement on websites: Putting such details in public domain acts as a deterrent against misuse and overspending Net individual medical reimbursements at cost of public exchequer should also be legislated to be put in public domain
Delhi Right to Information Act 2001: should be repealed- Introduce RTI Courses in Universities and Colleges: School syllabus should include lessons on RTI Act: Department of Civics and Politics (University of Mumbai) has announced a certificate course for RTI Act- other universities should also start similar courses Universities can set up RTI Cells as part of their social responsibility Awareness of RTI Act amongst school children and ordinary people necessary: Electronic media to produce interesting and educative TV serials on RTI Act and success stories Exclusive award ceremony for those effectively using RTI Act. High time to bring private sector under RTI Act: it is necessary because of malpractices and gimmickry tactics adopted by private companies dominating aspects concerning day-to-day life
Abuse of RTI Act by petitioners effectively checked through CIC verdicts; DoPT should arrange massive training programs by experts for handling RTI Petitions To discourage tendency to file useless RTI petitions: RTI fees should be raised to Rs. 50 which may include cost of first twenty copied pages Abuse of RTI Act by public authorities Wrong use and misuse of RTI provisions by public authorities: use of RTI Act by Private Schools other than Government aided schools managed by private bodies- Directorate of Education receiving RTI petitions in respect of those private schools which are not indirectly funded or controlled by government can transfer them directly under Section 6 (3)
Reforms needed in RTI Rules without amending RTI Act DoPT should direct public authorities to use only A-4 size paper for all correspondence made under RTI Act and assured delivery Speed Post service for sending all communications relating to RTI Act. and/or concerned senior officers for non-compliance of section 4. RTI stamps or coupons for payment of RTI fees and copying charges in denominations of 2, 10 and 50 Petty photocopying charges should be avoided It should be made compulsory for public authorities to send copies of written submissions to petitioners 20 days before hearing date copied documents may be sent along with RTI responses in case number of documents is small. Copy of identification proof bearing signature of petitioner be made compulsory Power to review by a larger bench at Information Commissions; Persons of BPL category be provided waiver of RTI fees only for information personally related to them. Uniform RTI fees for all states adequate staffing of legal departments at Information Commissions All public authorities to compulsorily use economical fast Disciplinary action by DoPT against competent authorities
