NEW DELHI, Aug 12:
The Government today introduced a bill to amend the Right to Information Act in the Lok Sabha in order to keep political parties out of its ambit.
There is a near unanimity across the political spectrum on the issue of keeping political parties out of the ambit of the RTI Act.
The Bill was introduced in the House by Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions V Narayanasamy.
The Union Cabinet had on August 1 cleared a proposal to amend the RTI Act to give immunity to political parties.
The Cabinet decision had come nearly two months after the Central Information Commission’s order of bringing six national political parties — Congress, BJP, NCP, CPI(M), CPI and BSP — under the RTI Act.
The Government proposed an amendment in section 2 of the Act,
which defines public authority, to shield th political parties.
The proposed amendment will make it clear that the definition of public authority shall not include any political party registered under the Representation of the Peoples Act.
The CIC had in its order on June 3 held that the six national parties have been substantially funded indirectly by the Central Government and were required to appoint Public Information Officers(PIOs) as they have the character of a public authority under the RTI Act.
The decision of the transparency watchdog had evoked sharp reactions from political parties, especially the Congress which has been credited with bringing in the transparency law.
The decision to amend the RTI Act was taken by the Ministry of Personnel, which acts as nodal department for the implemntation of the Act, in consultation with the Law Ministry and was based on consensus of all political parties. (UNI)
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