Hyderabad: The Centre has listed amendments to the RTI Act in the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which is scheduled to commence on July 18, raising concerns that the legislation may be diluted. The contents of the amendment Bill have not been made public so far.
Sources in the government said that the amendment Bill sought to revise salaries of RTI officers. As many as 14,000 people have signed the petition on Twitter to oppose the amendment Bill.
Activists said the NDA government’s intentions were not transparent as debates or public consultations had not taken place on the contents of the Bill.
An activist said the RTI Act leaves the salaries of information commissioners are now under purview of Parliament. “If it’s brought under the Central and state governments, it may prove to be a coercive measure and will influence the freedom of officials in making key decisions sometimes against the government,” he said.
RTI activist Anjali Bharadwaj had filed an RTI application seeking information on the amendment Bill from the Department of Personnel and Training, which replied that the information can’t be shared as it was under consideration.
