Afternoon Voice: Opinion: Thursday, May 31, 2018.
It refers to
completely senseless RTI-response subsequently endorsed by First Appellate
Authority at Election Commission wherein it was held that political parties are
purview of RTI Act. Central Information Commission (CIC) and not Election
Commission is the authority to decide any body to be a public-authority under
RTI Act. CIC in its full-bench decision dated June 03,2013, followed by another
full-bench CIC-verdict has already declared six political parties to be under
RTI Act. Neither any of the two CIC-verdicts have not been challenged in courts
by any of the concerned political party, nor legislation has been amended to
make political parties outside purview of RTI Act even though a writ by the
concerned RTI applicants is pending at Supreme Court to ensure a compliance of
CIC-verdicts bringing political parties under RTI Act. As such technically
CIC-verdicts declaring six national political parties under RTI Act stands
because no court has given any stay-order against the CIC-verdicts.
It is for CIC
to take immediate sue-motto cognisance of absolutely senseless dictates holding
political parties not under RTI Act. CIC is national watchdog to ensure that
public-authorities do not unjustifiably go against its verdicts. It is like
information delayed as information denied if CIC waits the appellant to
approach CIC against absolutely wrong, unlawful and senseless orders of
Election Commission which has crossed its limitations through such RTI response
followed by order of First Appellate Authority of Election Commission. CIC can
even impose penalty and recommend disciplinary action against concerned at
Election Commission for blunt violation of CIC-orders.
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