right to some information

The Right to Information Act is slowly bringing a change in our society that has always taken government obscurity for granted. We have grown up in a culture where we just don't care about how the government functions, and the governments themselves have made it an art form to be as indirect and secretive as possible.

On a similar theme, I think that many governments have always given us the impression that the only entity that can be trusted with the security of this country is the government itself. The common man deserves to not know what's going on, and that set-up has been going on for decades. I believe the governments always tell themselves that we must protect India from the Indians themselves, because they sure as hell can't protect it from outsiders.

So when the government brought about the Right to Information Act, it was a pleasant surprise, and I was left wondering what made the government attempt to lift the haze around the way it does business.

But the thing is, any government philanthropy is usually shortlived, and the government shakes itself out of its benign state and reminds itself that its here to grab the riches and power of this country for itself, not for the puny little common man.

Just like its attempted clampdown on internet media, the government is looking to dilute the RTI as well, and just when it was making inroads into the lives of those grieved by the incompetence and tyranny of our many governments and their soldiers.

Its an old story now, but heres whats going on. Earlier, citizens had the right to obtain full information on any government file when demanded, of course barring some really sensitive areas such as defense, nuclear establishments etc, but now the government is keep to amend the bill and keep certain public notings on files made by officials out of the ambit of the act. More than anything, what it seems to me is an attempt by the bureaucracy to protect itself after years of sub-standard work. Anything could have been written on those files, we don't know, and the bureaucrats sure don't want us to know either.

RTI Act amended, file notes excluded

New Delhi: In a move that could restrict the Right to Information, the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the introduction of a bill in Parliament to amend the present law to exclude from public notings on files by officials in 'a few areas'.

The decision has been done following objections raised by some government organisations, like UPSC, that file notings should not be made public, Information Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told reporters after a meeting of the Union Cabinet cleared the amendment.

Dasmunsi said there were 'certain ambiguities' in the Right to Information Act 2005 and file notings in a 'few areas' could be exempted. He said such exemptions are granted in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.

Meanwhile, the BJP on Thursday slammed the government on the Right To Information (RTI) Act, saying it was brought into force with a big hype, but it turned out to be a damp squib.

Talking to mediapersons, BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley said a big hype was created over the Act with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh going to the extent of advocating to make official notings public.

But as disclosures were becoming more and more embarrassing, the government was now saying that certain facts could not be revealed. He said he had filed a petition under the RTI Act to get the details of the correspondence between CBI and Crown Prosecution of London. But it had not been made available to him on the ground that the Bofors case was still on.
------------------------------------------------

So the government wants to cut the act's power because it has started to cause embarrassment to the various organizations and departments. How bloody predictable no?

As if that wasn't enough, the government is also planning to cut the powers of the Central Information Commission, a body it set up to oversee the proper implementation of the new act. Ah Congress and your worthless allies, if you had your way, you would probably put blinders on all citizens and add a hymn that we would have to sing everyday of your greatness.

Govt plans to reduce powers of CIC

In another blow to the RTI act, the government plans to further reduce the powers of the Central Information Commission by now transferring the right to take a final decision on complaints against officers who do not give out information to citizens.

Till now the commission had the final say in most matters and enjoyed the powers of a civil court and could summon officers, ask for documents and even impose fines.The proposed amendment may end up reducing the CIC to only giving recommendations to the state and central government, which would have the final say.

Campaigners are planning to launch a nationwide campaign next week in protest of the proposed amendments.
----------------------------------------

I dont know why the government is trying to keep up with this farce. They have no intention of doing anything remotely beneficial for us, so why are they pretending they are trying? I think this country will be burning by the time the traitors and thieves in the Con'gress and its posse get done with their plan to rape and plunder it.