The RTI Convention begs the question: who will save the RTI?
Ideally, the 14th convention on the RTI, on October 12, where Central and state commissioners were present, should have resolved against the amendment which reduces their collective independence. However, I am surprised that even non-bureaucrat commissioners also did not raise their voice against it.
The least a convention of commissioners could have done was to ask for information on the status of commissioners themselves.
But do information commissioners have the right to information on the status of commissioners? It seems that the government has managed to escape the convention without informing them.
After 13 years of having been exercised successfully, the empowering Right to Information legislation has suffered a dent. A strong blow has been dealt to the institution of the Information Commission, which is a pivotal link between citizens seeking information, and the bureaucracy, which often refuses to share it.
Please click here to read more.