Centre to bring ordinance to amend RTI act: Cong
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 12 July 2013 17:01 IST
Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik
The ruling Congress party at the centre has decided to issue an ordinance to amend the Right to Information Act to exempt political parties being brought under the purview of act.
Shantaram Naik, Rajya Sabha MP and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, said here today the Congress would certainly make a move to amend the act.
The Central Information Commission has given a verdict, naming political parties, which need to be brought under the RTI Act since they have taken either government land or accommodations to set up its offices in New Delhi.
“This cannot be considered as substantial government funding”, said Naik while addressing a press conference in Panaji today.
According to him, only those organisations which get government funding and they are formed either under the Societies act or a Trust can be brought under the RTI act.
The CIC has however directed all the political parties to appoint Public Information Officer as well as appellate authorities by 15 July.
“Our party would take initiative in amending the RTI act in the Parliament and we are confident that all other parties would also share a similar view on the issue”, said Naik.
However, if the whole process clashes with the deadline served by the CIC, then the government would issue the ordinance, he said.
When pointed out that the union law ministry has given a different opinion on the issue, Naik said such decisions are taken by the cabinet and not the law ministry alone.
