“Recent amendments to the Right to Information Act will have profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
The RTI Act is an important law in India that gives citizens the right to ask questions and obtain information from the government. It is designed to promote transparency and accountability in government and has been successful in doing so, with an estimated 60 lakhs applications filed every year.
Amendments: The recent amendments to the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 have raised concerns about the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission. These amendments allow the central government to decide the tenure, salary, allowance, and other terms of service for Information Commissioners at the Central and State Information Commissions.
Impacts: These amendments undermines the fundamental purpose of the RTI Act, which is to promote government accountability and transparency. By potentially influencing the Information Commission through its power to decide the terms of service for its members, the government could undermine the independence of the commission and its ability to impartially mandate the release of information in accordance with the provisions of the RTI Act.
In summary, the amendments to the RTI Act have the potential to impact the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission, which could undermine the overall effectiveness of the law in promoting government accountability and transparency.
