Plans to amend RTI Act after attacks on activists

Concerned over the growing instances of attacks on people and even deaths of those who have sought information under the provisions of the Right To Information (RTI) Act in the country, the government in a significant step is planning to amend the legislation by inserting a clause under which personal information of an individual seeking information will not be disclosed.

According to sources privy to the development, the department of personnel and training has prepared a draft circular stating that while disbursing RTI applications and appeals, personal information of an individual should not be disclosed. The department has sought comments from various stakeholders on the draft circular, which was prepared last week, by the end of the first week of April, and once these are received, the government plans to insert the clause through an amendment in the act, which would be sent for parliamentary approval after the Cabinet’s approval, sources informed.

The move has come amid the fact that around 45 RTI activists have been killed and 240-odd have been assaulted across the country between July 2005 and August 2015, which is the first decade of the legislation. The RTI Act had come into force in July 2005.

Sources added that though public authorities have been, at regular intervals, apprised about the fact that they may not disclose personal information of people seeking information, as it does not serve any public interest, yet it has been brought to the notice of the government that on several occasions, personal details of information seekers have been disclosed, thus putting their lives at risk.

Taking cognisance of this, the government has initiated this move and it is likely that the necessary changes would be made soon.

According to the existing provisions, “An applicant making request for information shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any other personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting him.”

Despite this provision being in place in the legislation, stakeholders have brought to the notice of the Government that personal details of information seekers have been divulged on many instances, thus increasing the threat to their lives.

RTI activists though feel that how far this move will help in bringing down incidents of violent attacks on information seekers, remains to be seen.