: OBJECTIONS TO PROPOSED RTI RULES : To, Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Personnel Training, North Block, New Delhi-110001 : Subject : Objections on the proposed amendment in the Right to Information Rules-2010 notified by Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, DoPT (File No : 1/35/2008-IR dated 10-12-2010)
Respected Sir,
As a common man I feel that the amendments are not necessary for smooth functioning of the government and to keep out frivolous complaints, but amending the law in order to suit the needs of secrecy-loving bureaucracy will empower the corruption drastically. Amendments suggested by your good-self are against public interest and in favour of few corrupt officials.
The government should identify non-strategic areas for disclosure and improve on proactive disclosure, but instead of putting all the information in the public domain, they wants to amend the Act.
In the proposed amendments it is provided that the request for information shall relate only to one subject matter and shall be limited to two hundred and fifty words, excluding the address. But in public interest It is better to explain the matter, so that PIO is better place to provide information. Secondly, when all the information is priced, why restriction on seeking information. It will unnecessarily encourage multiple applications and load of postages unnecessary.
In the proposed amendments the actual amount spent by public authority on hiring a machine or any other equipment, if any, to supply information and Postal charges, in excess of rupees ten, if any, involved in supply of information is to be recovered from applicant. Most of the recent scam came to Public Knowledge due to Public taking information under RTI Act. This increase in fee through this channel is for protecting the corrupt officials, through this point PIO may demand extra ordinary amount for the information. It is common knowledge 90% of Public Authority had not complied the proactive disclosures in spirit till date.
In another clause The Commission shall not admit an appeal unless it is satisfied that the appellant had availed of all the remedies available to him under the Act. Restricting clauses is without valid reasons. Sometime it was not proper or possible to comply all the conditions. It reduces the Power of Commission and interference in Justice administration.
The requirement of submitting a duly authenticated & verified documents as stipulated therein is likely to be misused for harassing an applicant. It should be substituted by “self attested copies of documents with instructions to produce the originals during hearing or when specifically called for verification and return”.
The recent amendments will increase the denial of information on the grounds that the application is above the 250 words cap. It will also increase the demand of improper additional fees. These are the indications that the government is amending the Act to “protect” some people rather than strengthen it. It is our humble request not to amend the Right to information act in Public interest.
With regards,
pls write your name here
एक जागरूक नागरिक द्वारा भेजे गए मेल पर आधारित
