RTI activists protest against PM’s statement

The Times of India: New Delhi: Sunday, October 14, 2012.

RTI activists have registered a strong protest against PM Manmohan Singh's statement cautioning against misuse of the information Act by those filing vexatious applications and inclusion of public private partnerships (PPP) within its ambit.

The National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI), led by Aruna Roy, expressed concern that the PM's statement could strengthen those who were in favour of weakening the Act.

Strongly opposing any move to dilute the law, NCPRI and other civil society groups said that they had hoped that the PM's speech would call for a more energetic and vibrant RTI regime. "The concerns expressed by the PM will support and pass a signal to those who want to dilute and weaken the act that they support from the highest quarters. Citizens will be deprived of a transparent and accountable system," the statement said.

On the issue of "frivolous and vexatious" applications the PM had expressed concern about the misuse of the Act in demanding information the disclosure of which cannot possibly serve any public purpose. Activists said that that the terms were "undefinable and arbitrary and any application can be termed "vexatious and frivolous" as per the whim and fancy of a public information officer. Any move to sanction rejection of applications on this basis would cripple the RTI Act."

On the issue of inclusion of inclusion of PPPs within the ambit of the Act, the PM had said that the issue was complicated, but "blanket extension of the act to such bodies may discourage private enterprises to enter into partnerships with the public sector entity'.' The activists have rebutted this argument by saying that many people saw PPP as a "ploy" by government to escape its responsibilities and accountability. Removing them from the purview of the RTI Act in any way will make them unaccountable and opaque, the activists said.

RTI activist S C Agrawal agreed saying that most scams and scandals were possible because of the "unholy alliance of private sector with public authorities. Does PM wish to give an endorsement to such corrupt public-private partnerships by diluting RTI Act?"