The Central Government introduced the RTI Amendment Bill 2018 on July 19, 2018. The bill, inter alia, primarily, attempts to fix specific terms and salaries for the Information Commission of India in line with other constitutional offices such as that of the Chief Election Commissioner. The amendments seek to empower the Central government to decide the tenure, salaries, allowances and other terms of service of all Information Commissioners in the country. The rationale provided for undertaking this step is that treating Information Commissioners on par with functionaries of the Election Commission is incorrect, as the latter is a constitutional body while Information Commissions are statutory bodies.
Our Sunday Reading List focuses on the bill’s pros and cons, and the debate that it has spurred.
Muzzling Information – The Hindu Has the Right to Information Act Been Weakened? – The Hindu Dark Clouds over the RTI – The Hindu Downgrading the Status of Chief Information Commissioner – Economic & Political Weekly The People of India have protected the Right to Information Once Again – The Wire Diluting a Right – Indian Express
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