Business Standard: Mumbai: Saturday, October 08, 2016.
Former
Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi has authored an e-book in
order to lend a better interpretation of the Right To Information legislation
for common people.
The 81-page
e-book named 'RTI Act- Authentic Interpretation of The Statute' has been
uploaded on www.Satyamevajayate.Info and can be downloaded for free. The link
can also be shared on social media.
Speaking on
the necessity to pen a book over his pet subject, the 69-year old activist told
PTI, "our RTI law has been ranked as the third best in the world in terms
of its provisions. But India ranks at number 66 in terms of implementation.
This book could empower citizens, RTI users and would work like a plea to all
adjudicators to follow the words of the law".
The book is
co-authored by Pralhad Kachare, a bureaucrat who earlier headed Yashwantrao
Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA) in Pune and trained many
officers in the field of RTI.
It also
represents the views of Satyananda Mishra, a former Chief Information
Commissioner, and Toby Mendel who is an acclaimed expert on transparency laws.
Justice B N
Srikrishna has written the foreword in which he has expressed confidence that
the book will serve as a practical manual to persons interested in the subject,
and students, activists and authorities in charge of implementation of the Act.
The print
version of the e-book will hit the stands in the next few months.
Gandhi says
that many now-a-days decisions do not reflect the essence of the Act passed by
the Parliament, and the law is slowly being amended by misinterpretation.
"The bad
decisions given by PIOs, first appellate authorities, commissions and judges
are being followed everywhere," he said.
The ex-CIC
also expressed displeasure over the rising cases of rejection or denial of
information which are contrary to the Act.
"Right
to Information is being slowly disfigured into a right to denial of information
and I hope that this book could guide citizens as well as adjudicators to
follow the word of law," Gandhi said claiming, "that this is the most
authentic interpretation of the RTI Act".
At the end of
the book, authors have launched an RTI competition where readers can
participate by sending entries by e-mail to rticompetition@satyamevajayate.In
and can win a prize of Rs 25,000 without an entry fee or registration.
"Anyone
who reads the book and has a logical and analytical mind can participate in
it," Gandhi said.
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