Protest against RTI Amendments

Public hearing on RTI Implementation in Constitution club, New Delhi on 12th December 2018

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/activists-protest-against-proposed-amendment-in-rti-act/1438970

https://thewire.in/rights/rti-activists-dilute-law-bjp-institutions

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/political-leaders-activists-march-in-protest-against-rti-act-amendments/articleshow/67066132.cms 

Protest demanding srapping of RTI Amendments held in Delhi on 12th December

 

 

 

National Campaign for Peoples’ Right to Information (NCPRI)
Press Release: December 12, 2018
Hundreds of people protest against proposed amendments to the RTI Act & demand operationalisation of the anti-corruption laws
People raise slogans of RTI nahi toh vote nahi!
Opposition parties pledge support to defeat RTI Amendments

 
Today a Jan Manch and protest march was held in Delhi to protest against the proposed dilution of the RTI Act and to demand implementation of anti-corruption laws- the Lokpal Act, the Whistle Blowers Protection Act.

In the protest march, the protestors took out a Ghotala Rath Yatra to expose the government’s double speak on issues of corruption. Whereas the BJP came to power on the plank of anti-corruption, all the key laws and institutions of transparency and accountability are being systematically undermined by the government. People shouted slogans of “RTI nahi toh vote nahi”.

People from 10 states including Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar participated in the protest and Jan Manch.

Leaders of various political parties pledged support and assured that they will oppose the RTI amendment bill. Leaders of Congress, CPI and RJD attended the Jan Manch.

RTI activists from across the country highlighted that the government is undermining the RTI Act through the proposed amendment bill and also by not appointing information commissioners. In an ongoing case in the Supreme Court regarding vacancies in information commissions across the country, the counsel for the central government in the last hearing on December 3, 2018 had stated that the RTI Amendment Bill 2018 will be taken up during the ongoing winter session. Further, the government has also failed to operationalise and implement any of the anti-corruption laws. The Lokpal and Whistle Blowers Protection Act which were passed in 2014 have not been operationalised by the government. The government has also not re-introduced the Grievance Redressal Bill which was introduced in the previous Lok Sabha and provided a statutory framework for effective and time-bound redress of grievances.

Rajeev Gowda stated that the Congress will steadfastly oppose any proposed amendments to the RTI Act. He said that the RTI Act was crucial as it empowered people to seek information about decisions of the government. He highlighted how the government was undermining accountability by not disclosing the price of the Rafael planes in Parliament. Further, he said that the government was undermining the anti-corruption laws through proposed amendments to the Whistle Blower Protection Act. Further he said that secrecy in party funding through electoral bonds must be opposed.

Manoj Jha of the RJD said that his party will not allow the government to weaken the RTI Act. He said that the Act had empowered people to hold the government accountable and was furthering democracy. He said that the RJD will support all efforts inside and outside Parliament to save the RTI Act.

D. Raja of the CPI said that the left parties had supported the passage of the RTI Act in 2005 and since then had opposed every attempt of the government to weaken the law. He said even this time, the left parties will oppose the proposed amendments.

Prashant Bhushan, senior advocate of the Supreme Court said that the government was interfering with every independent oversight institution and that it was amending laws to shield the corrupt. He highlighted how amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act mean that abuse of power by officials is no longer an offence. He said that the RTI Act was critical to empower people and must be protected.

Prof. Sridhar Acharyulu, former Central Information Commissioner said that the government was undermining the independence of information commissioners to prevent them from functioning properly. He said that people must oppose the amendments.  

The proposed amendments to the RTI Act will completely destroy the autonomy of Information Commissions set up under the RTI Act to adjudicate on appeals and complaints of people who have been denied their rights under the RTI Act. The amendments seek to empower the Central government to decide the tenure and salary and allowances of Information Commissioners of the Central Information Commission and also of State Information Commissions through rules.

Vacancies in information commissions
In the Central Information Commission (CIC), 8 out of 11 posts are currently lying vacant, including that of the Chief. There are nearly 26,500 cases now pending before the CIC and the backlog is rising at an alarming rate due to the paucity of commissioners. Even the advertisement issued by the government was defective as it did not specify the salary and tenure, even though these are specifically defined in the RTI Act & therefore, the advertisements were not in keeping with the RTI law. In several other commissions also there are large backlogs of cases as vacancies are not being filled in a time bound manner. In Andhra Pradesh, RTI activists highlighted that the commission is completely dysfunctional. Even though now 3 commissioners have been appointed, as there is no chief, the commission is not hearing any matters. Further, the commission is unable to provide information on the number of appeals/complaints pending post bifurcation of the commission. In Madhya Pradesh, more than 15,000 cases are pending and even though the chief is set to retire soon, there has been no move by the government to initiate the appointment process.

The case in the Supreme Court regarding vacancies in information commissions is scheduled to be heard on the 13^th of December 2018.

The rally and Jan Manch were organised by National Campaign for Peoples’ Right to Information (NCPRI), in collaboration with various campaigns and groups including the National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM), the National Right to Food Campaign, and the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW).
Signed/-
Anjali Bhardwaj, Nikhil Dey, Pradip Pradhan, Rakesh Dubbudu, Pankti Jog, Venkatesh Nayak, Dr Shaikh
9910009819, 9810273984
 

Protest March & Jan Manch on Dec 12,2018. New Delhi

Join us for the Jan Manch tomorrow to oppose proposed amendments to the RTI Act and to demand immediate operationalization of anti-corruption laws. 8 out of 11 posts of information commissioners in the CIC are vacant. The government is trying to undermine the RTI Act. Join us to #SaveRTI

Protest demanding RTI Implementation in RDO office, Anakapalle and Vizag Collectrate

పత్రికా ప్రకటన

అనకాపల్లి  రెవెన్యూ డివిజనల్ ఆఫీసరు (RDO) మరియు డివిజన్ లోని  రెవెన్యూ కార్యాలయాలలో

RTI ని అమలు చేయాలి !

V. మాడుగుల, చీడికాడ ఆదివాసీల ర్యాలీ

ఈ రోజు తేది 03/12/2018 న అనకాపల్లి  రెవెన్యూ డివిజనల్ ఆఫీసరు (RDO) మరియు డివిజన్ లోని  రెవెన్యూ కార్యాలయాలలో RTI ని అమలు చేయాలని కోరుతూ అఖిల భారత వ్యవసాయ మరియు గ్రామీణ కార్మిక సంఘం (AIARLA), యునైటెడ్ ఫోరం ఫర్ RTI (UFRTI) నాయకత్వంలో V. మాడుగుల, చీడికాడ ఆదివాసీలు ర్యాలీ నిర్వహిoచి RDO కు మెమోరాండం అందజేశారు.

ఈ సందర్బంగా P.S. అజయ్ కుమార్ , జాతీయ కౌన్సిల్ సభ్యుడు,  అఖిల భారత వ్యవసాయ మరియు గ్రామీణ కార్మిక సంఘం (AIARLA) మాట్లాడుతూ అనకాపల్లి RDO కార్యాలయoకు వస్తున్న RTI ధరఖాస్తులపై స్పందన వుండటం లేదని అన్నారు. ‘ఆవు చేలో మెస్తే దూడ గట్టున మెస్తుoదా’ అన్నట్లుగా RDO కార్యలయం లోనే చట్టం అమలు ఈ విధoగా వుంటే దానికి తగినట్లు గానే RDO పరిధిలోకి వచ్చే మండలాల పరిస్తితి వుందని అజయ్ కుమార్ అన్నారు. అటవీ హక్కుల చట్టం అనుసరించి RDO సబ్ – డివిజనల్ కమిటీ చైర్మెన్ గా వ్యవహరిస్తారని,                V. మాడులుగుల, చీడికాడ మండలాలలో ఈ చట్టం అనుసరిoచి ఎన్ని అటవి భూలకు వచ్చిన క్లయిం ల  సమాచారo కావాలని శిరగం ఈశ్వరావు అనే ఆదివాసీ యువకుడు జులై 12 దరఖాస్తు చేస్తే ఈ నాటికి ఎలాంటి సమాచారం ఇవ్వలేదని అన్నారు.

RDO లు సమాచార హక్కు చట్టం అనుసరిచి ‘అప్పీలేట్ అధికారు’ అవుతారని కానీ అప్పీల్ పిటిషన్ లు విచారణకు నోచుకోవటం లేదని  B.చక్రధర్, రాష్ట్ర కన్వీనర్, యునైటెడ్ ఫోరం ఫర్ RTI (UFRTI) అన్నారు. రేపు వాయిదా అనగా ఈ రోజు నోటీసులు పోస్టు చేస్తున్నారని వాయిదా తేదీ అయిపోయాక పిటిషనర్స్ కి అవి అందుతున్నాయ అన్నారు. కోర్టు మొట్టికాయలు వేశాక రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వం ముగ్గుర సమాచార కమీషనర్లను నాలుగేళ్ల తరువాత నియమించిందని. సమాచార కమీషన్ వ్యవస్తాను పదవి విరమణ చేసిన ప్రభుత్వ ఉద్యోగులకు ‘పునరావాస కేంద్ర’ గా ప్రభుత్వం మార్చిoదని చక్రధర్ అన్నారు. RDO వెంటనే స్పందించి అనకాపల్లి డివిజన్ లో RTI అమలుపై సమీక్ష నిర్వహించాలని అజయ్ కుమార్, చక్రధర్ లు  డిమాండ్ చేశారు.

రామచంద్ర ధియేటరు వద్ద గల అంబేడ్కర్ విగ్రహం నుండి MRO కార్యలయం వరకూ అక్కడ నుండి RDO కార్యాలయానికి ర్యాలీ నిర్వహించి RDO కు విజ్జనపన పత్రం అందజేశారు.  ఇందులు V. మాడుగుల, చీడికాడ ఆదివాసీల రైతులు పాల్గొన్నారు.

                                                                                              భవదీయుడు

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                          (B.చక్రధర్)

                                                                                                                                  Cell No. 9246522344

Protest demanding RTI Act Implementation