Skip to main content

How RTI Amendment Bill was passed undermining pre-legisaltive consultation rule

By Anjali Bhardwaj, Amrita Johri*
In 2019, regressive amendments were made to the Right to Information (RTI) Act to empower the Central government to prescribe through rules, the tenure, salaries and other terms and conditions of service of information commissioners across the country.
The amendment, and the subsequent rules promulgated by the government in October 2019, destroy the insulation provided to information commissions in the original Act to enable them to function independently.
The RTI Amendment Act and the subsequent rules were made in a completely surreptitious manner with no public consultation. This constituted a violation of the procedures laid down in the Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy of 2014.
An application under the RTI Act was filed on October 28, 2019 seeking a copy of all the correspondence, notings and comments of ministries, department and information commissions on the draft of the RTI Amendment Bill. The Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) facilitated an inspection of the said file and on 16.1.2020 uploaded the file on their website. The RTI application and reply can be accessed here.
The files uploaded by the DOPT can be accessed on their website by following the RTI link and then the page Important files of IR Division.
A perusal of the files points to the following key issues

Cabinet directed that provisions on tenure of information commissioners be amended to allow it to be prescribed through rules by the government

The initial proposal only sought to amend the sections related to salaries and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service of information commissioners. There was no mention of amending the provisions related to tenure of information commissioners.
However, the cabinet directed that the provisions regarding the tenure of information commissioners should also be amended to allow the Central government to prescribe it through rules. Noting dated 5.7.2019 notes:
“Cabinet Note was sent for approval of Cabinet on 03.04.20 18. Cabinet Secretariat had conveyed the approval of the Cabinet vide DO letter No 13/CM/2018 dated 5/4/2018 (page 274/Corr). The Cabinet further directed that the term of office of Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioners, State Chief Information Commissioners and State Information Commissioners be as prescribed by the Central Government.”

Government sought relaxation of the rules of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha requiring prior notice and circulation of bill

The rules of procedure of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha require prior notice to be given for introducing a bill and also have provisions requiring circulation of bills to members before it is introduced.
Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (MoS), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, wrote to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha seeking relaxation of these provisions.
Rule 123 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha states:
“123. Motion for consideration On the day on which the motion for consideration is set down in the list of business which shall, unless the Chairman otherwise directs, be not less than two days from the receipt of the notice, the member giving notice may move that the Bill be taken into consideration.”
Direction 19A,/19B of the Direction of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha state:
“19A. (1) A Minister desiring to move for leave to introduce a Bill shall give in writing the notice of one’s intention to do so.
"(2) The period of notice of a motion for leave to introduce a Bill under this direction shall be seven days unless the Speaker allows the motion to be made at shorter notice.
19B. No Bill shall be included for introduction in the list of business for a day until after copies thereof have been made available for the use of members for at least two days before the day on which the Bill is proposed to be introduced:
"...Provided further that in other cases, where the Minister desires that the Bill may be introduced earlier than two days after the circulation of copies or even without prior circulation, the Minister shall give full reasons in a memorandum for the consideration of the Speaker explaining as to why the Bill is sought to be introduced without making available to members copies thereof in advance, and if the Speaker gives permission, the Bill shall be included in the list of business for the day on which the Bill is proposed to be introduced.”

Government wrote to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha requesting that the RTI Amendment Bill not be referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee for detailed deliberations

Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions wrote to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha requesting that the Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 not be referred to a Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee.
---
*Satark Nagrik Sangathan

Comments

Post a Comment

TRENDING

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.
59 comments
»

CFA flags ‘welfare retreat’ in Union Budget 2026–27, alleges corporate bias

By Jag Jivan  The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has sharply criticised the Union Budget 2026–27 , calling it a “budget sans kartavya” that weakens public welfare while favouring private corporations, even as inequality, climate risks and social distress deepen across the country.
Post a Comment
»

From water scarcity to sustainable livelihoods: The turnaround of Salaiya Maaf

By Bharat Dogra   We were sitting at a central place in Salaiya Maaf village, located in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, for a group discussion when an elderly woman said in an emotional voice, “It is so good that you people came. Land on which nothing grew can now produce good crops.”
Post a Comment
»

'Big blow to crores of farmers’: Opposition mounts against US–India trade deal

By A Representative   Farmers’ organisations and political groups have sharply criticised the emerging contours of the US–India trade agreement, warning that it could severely undermine Indian agriculture, depress farm incomes and open the doors to genetically modified (GM) food imports in violation of domestic regulatory safeguards.
Post a Comment
»

When free trade meets unequal fields: The India–US agriculture question

By Vikas Meshram   The proposed trade agreement between India and the United States has triggered intense debate across the country. This agreement is not merely an attempt to expand bilateral trade; it is directly linked to Indian agriculture, the rural economy, democratic processes, and global geopolitics. Free trade agreements (FTAs) may appear attractive on the surface, but the political economy and social consequences behind them are often unequal and controversial. Once again, a fundamental question has surfaced: who will benefit from this agreement, and who will pay its price?
Post a Comment
»

Why Russian oil has emerged as the flashpoint in India–US trade talks

By N.S. Venkataraman*  In recent years, India has entered into trade agreements with several countries, the latest being agreements with the European Union and the United States. While the India–EU trade agreement has been widely viewed in India as mutually beneficial and balanced, the trade agreement with the United States has generated comparatively greater debate and scrutiny.
Post a Comment
»

Trade pacts with EU, US raise alarms over farmers, MSMEs and policy space

By A Representative   A broad coalition of farmers’ organisations, trade unions, traders, public health advocates and environmental groups has raised serious concerns over India’s recently concluded trade agreements with the European Union and the United States, warning that the deals could have far-reaching implications for livelihoods, policy autonomy and the country’s long-term development trajectory. In a public statement issued, the Forum for Trade Justice described the two agreements as marking a “tectonic shift” in India’s trade policy and cautioned that the projected gains in exports may come at a significant social and economic cost.
Post a Comment
»

From Puri to the State: How Odisha turned the dream of drinkable tap water into policy

By Hans Harelimana Hirwa, Mansee Bal Bhargava   Drinking water directly from the tap is generally associated with developed countries where it is considered safe and potable. Only about 50 countries around the world offer drinkable tap water, with the majority located in Europe and North America, and a few in Asia and Oceania. Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, and Singapore have the highest-quality tap water, followed by Canada, New Zealand, Japan, the USA, Australia, the UK, Costa Rica, and Chile.
1 comment
»

Michael Parenti: Scholar known for critiques of capitalism and U.S. foreign policy

By Harsh Thakor*  Michael Parenti, an American political scientist, historian, and author known for his Marxist and anti-imperialist perspectives, died on January 24 at the age of 92. Over several decades, Parenti wrote and lectured extensively on issues of capitalism, imperialism, democracy, media, and U.S. foreign policy. His work consistently challenged dominant political and economic narratives, particularly those associated with Western liberal democracies and global capitalism.
Post a Comment
»