RTI amendments contempt of House: Harshdev

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 4: The National Panthers Party (NPP) Member Legislative Assembly (MLA), Harshdev Singh today described the amendments made in the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act by the Government as contempt of the Assembly.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone, without commenting on the amendments, however, assured the legislators that he will have a look at it.
The legislator alleged that the Government has violated Section 26 of the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act 2009. The section says: “Before any type of modification/Amendment of RTI Rules, Government is supposed to lay modifications and amendments before both Houses of Legislature.”
Singh said that by these sweeping amendments the RTI act has been rendered virtually powerless and toothless. He said that this is against the basic spirit of transparency.
The legislator said that all these amendments have been done just to stop the Commission from exercising its powers and to hinder smooth functioning of the Institution.
The MLA alleged that by such amendments the State Government is destroying the State institutions.