RTI activists oppose govt panel for info guidelines.

Times of India: Pune: Saturday, December 09, 2017.

Right to Information (RTI) activists have opposed the appointment of a high-level committee headed by additional chief secretary (home) Sudhir Srivastava to frame guidelines on whether a copy of file notings or confidential notes can be given to elected representatives, including state legislators and MPs.

Activist Shailesh Gandhi has written a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting him to withdraw the order. "We feel that the separate guidelines will counter the established legal position of the RTI Act," Gandhi said, adding, "This will obviously be applied to all citizens using RTI as well."

He said when the RTI Act is already in place, how can the government have another committee appointed to frame guidelines. "The file notings are to be disclosed under RTI and this discretion being given to a committee appears to counter the established legal position," Gandhi added.

The activists have reiterated that no secretary or government functionary has any jurisdiction to decide on constricting a law made by the Parliament.

"In 2006, the Central Information Commission had first issued an order to disclose the file notings. This has been repeated in hundreds of decisions of courts and commissions," Gandhi wrote.

Activist Vijay Kumbhar said several agitations have taken place in this regard. "Committees cannot change the central act. There seems to be an agenda behind the move," Kumbhar said.

On July 27, 2015, the general administration department had issued a comprehensive circular stating that elected representatives visiting government offices should be treated respectfully and responses to their letters and applications should be as fast as possible.

According to state government officials, there were doubts raised on whether the entire information sought by representatives, such as official notes and confidential documents, should be provided. "The committee will look into all aspects and issue guidelines to all the departments," a senior official said.

Shiv Sena MLC and member of privilege committee said the members of the legislative assembly and council faced issues with information provided by the officials and bureaucrats. "There was a need to monitor and even keep a register on the information provided. The members should be provided the required information," she stated.