Kashmir Reader: New Delhi: Friday, 01 August 2014.
Bringing
political parties under the ambit of the Right to Information Act would hamper
their internal working and political rivals may misuse the law thus adversely
affecting functioning of the political parties, Rajya Sabha was informed
Thursday.
In a written
reply, Minister of State for Personnel and Training Jitendra Singh said no
representation from the political parties opposing the Central Information
Commission order, bringing six national parties under RTI, has been received in
the department.
“Declaring a
political party as public authority under the RTI Act would hamper its smooth
internal working, which is not the objective of the RTI Act. Further, political
rivals may misuse the provisions of the Act, thereby adversely affecting the
functioning of the political parties,” the minister said.
He said CIC
in its decision dated June 3, 2013 has held that the political parties namely
AICC/INC, BJP, CPI(M), CPI, NCP and BSP are public authorities under the RTI
Act.
“A bill was
introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 12, 2013 to exclude Political Parties
from definition of ‘Public Authority’ under the RTI Act, 2005. The Bill was
referred to Parliamentary Standing Committee on September 12, 2013. The
Standing Committee in its report recommended passing of bill by the Lok Sabha.
“The Bill
could not be taken up for consideration by the Parliament and stands lapsed
after dissolution of 15th Lok Sabha,” he said.
The Minister
said CIC was allocated a sum of 12.53 crore in the year 2011-12, 14.38 crore in
2012-13 and 15.50 crore in 2013-14.
He said at
the time of the constitution of the Central Information Commission 68 posts
were created in 2005.
“In 2007, the
posts were enhanced to 106 and later to 116 in 2008. The staff inspection unit
of the Department of Expenditure in 2010 assessed the requirement of posts as
154 and after detailed consultation with the Department of Expenditure, keeping
in view the recommendation of the SIU, 160 posts have been sanctioned in 2011,”
Singh said.
He said CIC
has been granted autonomy in the recruitment of staff. Recruitment rules have
been notified in all the 14 categories of posts in the Central Information
Commission.
“The
Commission is in the process of making appointment to the various posts. In
addition to the above, Government has appointed five more Information
Commissioners in the Central Information Commission with effect from November
22, 2013,” he said.