Cabinet notes too to become public

Times of India‎‎‎: Thrissur: Sunday, July 24, 2016.

The LDF government, which had appeared reluctant to include cabinet decisions within the purview of RTI Act, seems to have undertaken a major course correction. Chief Secretary S M Vijayanand confirmed to TOI on Saturday that cabinet decisions as well as cabinet notes will be uploaded on the government website along with the government order (GO) issued by the respective department. The chief secretary pointed out that with cabinet decisions available in the public domain, there won't be any need to file RTI queries to know these decisions.

Vijayanand, who was here to deliver a talk organised by Thrissur Management Association, told TOI that respective departments issue GOs usually within 48 hours of cabinet decisions. The orders and related documents will be published mostly on that day itself, he said.

The chief secretary clarified that decisions of the cabinet would become public documents once the respective department issues the GO.

The objective of approaching the court was to seek clarifications on these points, he said.

Vijayanand revealed that the government has also taken a decision not to take up 'out-of-agenda items' in the cabinet unless in special situations like announcing relief for disaster victims. Out-of-agenda items delay issuing of GOs because they often need to be referred to various departments like law for legal validity and feedback.