[HumJanenge] No dilution of RTI Act (Narayanaswamy)

http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/no-dilutionrti-act-by-any-agency-narayanaswamy/68030/

Government today said it would not allow dilution of the Right to
Information Act by "any agency."

Speaking at the valedictory session of seventh annual convention of
the Central Information Commission, Minister of State for Personnel
and Training V Narayanasamy said "one more thing, very vital issue,
burning issue...Is recent Supreme Court judgement that is Namit
Sharma's case. You have a lot of grievances on the judgment, I also
have a lot of grievances on the judgment."

"As far as the government is concerned, we have taken steps
immediately...We have filed a review about two days back after taking
views of the Law Ministry. I assure you in this forum that we will not
allow dilution of the Right to Information Act at any cost by any
agency," he said.

The Minister said the RTI Act is a very simple Act which even a common
man can read and understand, its provisions of dissemination of
information, without much expenditure.

"I don't want to go into the legal issue as I might be held for
contempt. It is a very simple act...Therefore, I would like to say
that government is committed to the full implementation of the Right
to Information Act in its present form. I will assure from the
government side that we would not be wanting any dilution of the Act,"
he said.

In a recent judgment in the Namit Sharma case, the Supreme Court court
had termed the Commissions as quasi-judicial bodies and directed the
government that Chief Information Commissioner at the Centre or state
level should only be a person who is or has been a Chief Justice of
the High Court or a judge of the Supreme Court of India.