DNA: New Delhi: Sunday, August
28, 2016.
Batra had
sought the number of suggestions for and objections to the decision. Around 16
people had sent their suggestions and objections and they all varied.
The Centre is
yet to take a final call on whether to reveal information seekers' personal
details while uploading replies to their applications as part of suo motu
disclosure. Delhi-based RTI applicant commodore Lokesh Batra (Retd) had sought
to know the status of the plan in June this year.
Batra had
sought the number of suggestions for and objections to the decision. Around 16
people had sent their suggestions and objections and they all varied. Most,
however, were of the view that the information should not be disclosed.
The
Department of Personnel and Training further responded to Batra stating that
the final decision was yet to be taken. "The government is dithering on
taking a decision on uploading RTI replies on website after expunging personal
information," Batra said.
The
government has been toying with the idea since 2014, when it first decided to
put up all the replies to RTI applications on respective websites of
departments and ministries. An office memorandum in this regard had also been
sent from the prime minister's office.
Some
activists and leader of opposition Malikarjun Kharge, however, expressed their
apprehensions about the plan. Kharge even wrote to the prime minister, stating
that the premise of the RTI Act was to promote transparency "but there
could be instances where the information seeker, you will agree, would need to
be shielded from needless exposure".
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