Skip to main content

Came to power on anti-corruption plank, BJP is now "undermining" transparency laws

Counterview Desk
On December 12, hundreds of people protested against the proposed amendments to the Right to Information (RTI) Act in Delhi, demanding operationalisation of anti-corruption laws. People raised the slogan "RTI nahi toh vote nahi!", even as opposition party leaders, participating in the protest, pledged support to defeat RTI amendments.
A National Campaign for Peoples’ Right to Information (NCPRI) statement, signed by senior activists Anjali Bhardwaj, Nikhil Dey, Pradip Pradhan, Rakesh Dubbudu, Pankti Jog, Venkatesh Nayak and Dr Shaikh following the protest, said that this is happening at a time when 8 out of 11 posts are currently lying vacant in the Central Information Commission (CIC), including that of the Chief Information Commissioner. As a result, nearly 26,500 cases now pending before the CIC.

Text of the NCPRI statement:

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 Rashtirya Janata Dal (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 and, 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 December 13, 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).

Comments

Uma said…
The only platform BJP has is telling people how corrupt Congress is. In none of the election rallies did I come across any mention of plans/remedies for improvement of the so-called mistakes of UPA
December 14, 2018
Post a Comment

TRENDING

Academics urge Azim Premji University to drop FIR against Student Reading Circle

  By A Representative   A group of academics and civil society members has issued an open letter to the leadership of Azim Premji University expressing concern over the filing of a police complaint that led to an FIR against a student-run reading circle following a recent incident of violence on campus. The signatories state that they hold the university in high regard for its commitment to constitutional values, critical inquiry and ethical public engagement, and argue that it is precisely because of this reputation that the present development is troubling.
Post a Comment
»

Was Netaji forced to alter face, die in obscurity in USSR in 1975? Was he so meek?

  By Rajiv Shah   This should sound almost hilarious. Not only did Subhas Chandra Bose not die in a plane crash in Taipei, nor was he the mysterious Gumnami Baba who reportedly passed away on 16 September 1985 in Ayodhya, but we are now told that he actually died in 1975—date unknown—“in oblivion” somewhere in the former Soviet Union. Which city? Moscow? No one seems to know.
1 comment
»

UAPA action against Telangana activist: Criminalising legitimate democratic activity?

By A Representative   The National Investigation Agency's Hyderabad branch has issued notices to more than ten individuals in Telangana in connection with FIR No. RC-04/2025. Those served include activists, former student leaders, civil rights advocates, poets, writers, retired schoolteachers, and local leaders associated with the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Indian National Congress. 
Post a Comment
»

Asbestos contamination in children’s products highlights global oversight gaps

By A Representative   A commentary published by the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) has drawn attention to the challenges governments face in responding effectively to global public-health risks. In an article written by Laurie Kazan-Allen and published on March 5, 2026, the author examines how the discovery of asbestos contamination in children’s play products has raised questions about regulatory oversight and international product safety. The article opens by reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that governments in several countries were slow to respond to early warning signs of the crisis. Referring to the experience of the United Kingdom, the author writes that delays in implementing protective measures contributed to “232,112 recorded deaths and over a million people suffering from long Covid.” The commentary uses this example to illustrate what it describes as the dangers of underestimating emerging threats. Attention then turns...
Post a Comment
»

Aligning too closely with U.S., allies, India’s silence on IRIS Dena raises troubling questions

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The reported sinking of the Iranian ship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka raises troubling questions about international norms and the credibility of the so-called rule-based order. If indeed the vessel was attacked by the American Navy while returning from a joint exercise in Visakhapatnam, it would represent a serious breach of trust and a violation of the principles that govern such cooperative engagements. Warships participating in these exercises are generally not armed for combat; they are meant to symbolize solidarity and friendship. The incident, therefore, is not only shocking but also deeply ironic.
Post a Comment
»

The kitchen as prison: A feminist elegy for domestic slavery

By Garima Srivastava* Kumar Ambuj stands as one of the most incisive voices in contemporary Hindi poetry. His work, stripped of ornamentation, speaks directly to the lived realities of India’s marginalized—women, the rural poor, and those crushed under invisible forms of violence. His celebrated poem “Women Who Cook” (Khānā Banātī Striyāṃ) is not merely about food preparation; it is a searing indictment of patriarchal domestic structures that reduce women’s existence to endless, unpaid labour.
Post a Comment
»

India’s foreign policy at crossroads: Cost of silence in the face of aggression

By Venkatesh Narayanan, Sandeep Pandey  The widely anticipated yet unprovoked attack on Iran on March 1 by the United States and Israel has drawn sharp criticism from several quarters around the world. Reports indicate that the strikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties, including 165 elementary school girls, 20 female volleyball players, and many other civilians. 
Post a Comment
»

India’s green energy push faces talent crunch amidst record growth at 16% CAGR

By Jag Jivan*  A new study by a top consulting firm has found that India’s cleantech sector is entering a decisive growth phase, with strong policy backing, record capacity additions and surging investor interest, but facing mounting pressure on talent supply and rising compensation costs .
Post a Comment
»

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah  Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".
51 comments
»