RTI Act consistently eroded since 2014: Shivakumar

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar stated on Sunday that the Right to Information Act (RTI Act) has been consistently eroded since 2014, “undermining the transparency and democratic set-up of the country.” 

In a press release, Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, stated that the 2019 amendments to the Act had “weakened” independence and “increased” executive influence.

“Earlier, ‘personal information’ could still be disclosed if it served public interest, but now the amended provision says: ‘No information which relates to personal information shall be disclosed, effectively making ‘personal information’ an absolute exemption. This could prevent disclosure of even information linked to public duties or use of public funds, undermining the transparency principle of RTI,” the press note said.

The press note came on the 20th anniversary of the RTI Act, which was enforced on October 12, 2005.

Stating that the Central Information Commission had only two commissioners in place against a sanctioned strength of 11, Shivakumar said the commission was functioning at its “weakest strength ever.”

The note concluded with the Congress placing 6 demands, including restoring the “independence” of the the Information Commissions by undoing the 2019 amendments and ensuring fixed 5 year tenure with secure service conditions, immediately filling vacancies in Central and state commissions through a “transparent, time-bound process,” and providing strong protection for RTI users and whistleblowers through full implementation of the Whistleblower Protection Act.