PM and Sonia Gandhi have different views on RTI Act amendment

New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi seem to have
different views on changes in the Right to Information Act
with the former saying "some issues" cannot be sorted without
making amendments and the latter holding that this is not
required.
In a letter to Singh on November 10, 2009, Gandhi said,
"In my opinion, there is no need for changes or amendments.
The only exceptions permitted, such as national security, are
already well taken care of in the legislation."
She said the law is just four years old and will take
time before "before the momentum generated by the act makes
for greater transparency and accountability in the structures
of the government."
"But the process has begun and must be strengthened,"
Gandhi said in her letter.
"It is important, therefore, that we adhere strictly to
its original aims and refrain from accepting or introducing
changes in the legislation...that would dilute its purpose,"
she wrote.
Gandhi said the problems like "lack of awareness" about
the act and "harassment" of the RTI applicants should be
addressed first.
In his reply, accessed by activist Subhash Chandra
Agrawal under the RTI Act, the Prime Minister on December 24
said there are "some issues that cannot be dealt with except
by amending the act".
"...the act does not provide for the constitution of
benches of the Central Information Commission though this is
how the business of the commission is being conducted. There
is no provision about alternate arrangements in the event of a
sudden vacancy in the office of the Chief Information
Commissioner," Singh wrote.
"The Chief Justice of India has pointed out that the
independence of the higher judiciary needs to be safeguarded
in the implementation of the Act. There are some issues
relating to cabinet papers and internal discussions," he said.
He however assured Gandhi that that a decision will be
taken after consultations with all stakeholders without
diluting the spirit of the act. PTI ABS
RBT


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