Deccan
Chronicle: New Delhi: Thursday, 04 September 2014.
It also
directed to provide complete information with related documents on the setting
up of the Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee to probe lobbying in India by foreign
companies, mentioning terms of the committee and time by which the report was
to be submitted.
RTI Activist
Subhash Aggarwal sought information regarding documents on the meetings of PMO
with Walmart lobbyists, file notings on setting up of the Justice Mukul Mudgal
Committee to probe lobbying by MNCs mentioning terms of reference, action taken
and steps taken to prevent lobbying.
“In my RTI
petition dated October 22, 2013 addressed to the Prime Minister’s Office there
were six points. The PIO of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in his reply
informed that points 4, 5 and 6 which were about setting up of the Justice
Mukul Mudgal Committee to probe lobbying in India by foreign companies, action
taken by the government on the findings of the report and steps taken to
prevent lobbying in India with government-functionaries by foreign companies.
They wrote back to me saying that the Justice Mukul Committee has submitted its
report and that subsequent follow-up action is in progress and the report will
be made available once it is presented in Parliament,” said Subhash Aggarwal.
The FAA in
his order upheld the PIO's reply, since the report has now been presented in
parliament. But action taken on lobbying can be provided only by the Department
of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). The appellant urged that there is
public interest involved and that such information should be available in the
public domain. After hearing both parties, the commission directed the
respondent to provide information on Points 4 and 5 to the appellant within two
weeks of receipt of the order.
.JPG)
.JPG)
