Political Parties and RTI - Ask The Right Questions
rgupta.substack.com
Published in the Indian Express The tussle around the proposed RTI amendments to nullify the CIC order bringing 6 national political parties within the ambit of the RTI Act is notable for many reasons: first, the amendments were sent to the Standing Committee for deliberation despite near political unanimity and thus an easy majority vote in the Parliament. This is significant since postponing amendments until at least the Winter session means a de-facto acceptance of the CIC order in the interim during which time information activists will ask questions. This is risky terrain since the CIC is a wild card: it could hold these complaints in abeyance given that the matter is under Parliamentary deliberation or it could pass another adverse order bringing more negative publicity to these 6 political parties, and the political class as a whole. The Standing Committee too has been unusually consultative – traveling to multiple states for public consultation as opposed to the usual style of selective invitations to depose in a Parliament room. The decision is thus an outcome of considerable political will and shows the political class to be less insular than its depiction of late.
Political Parties and RTI - Ask The Right Questions
Political Parties and RTI - Ask The Right…
Political Parties and RTI - Ask The Right Questions
Published in the Indian Express The tussle around the proposed RTI amendments to nullify the CIC order bringing 6 national political parties within the ambit of the RTI Act is notable for many reasons: first, the amendments were sent to the Standing Committee for deliberation despite near political unanimity and thus an easy majority vote in the Parliament. This is significant since postponing amendments until at least the Winter session means a de-facto acceptance of the CIC order in the interim during which time information activists will ask questions. This is risky terrain since the CIC is a wild card: it could hold these complaints in abeyance given that the matter is under Parliamentary deliberation or it could pass another adverse order bringing more negative publicity to these 6 political parties, and the political class as a whole. The Standing Committee too has been unusually consultative – traveling to multiple states for public consultation as opposed to the usual style of selective invitations to depose in a Parliament room. The decision is thus an outcome of considerable political will and shows the political class to be less insular than its depiction of late.