Concerns Raised As Centre Moves To Amend RTI Law In Parliament Session, National : Today Indya

Concerns Raised As Centre Moves To Amend RTI Law In Parliament Session

National

NDTV

The Monsoon session of parliament will begin from July 18 and end on August 10.

Concerns Raised As Centre Moves To Amend RTI Law In Parliament Session

NEW DELHI: A bill to amend the 2005 law on Right to Information has been listed for passing for the monsoon session of parliament. While government sources earlier indicated that the bill is only meant to revise salaries of RTI officers, opposition parties and activists expressed concerns that it could weaken the landmark transparency law.

Under the 2005 law, the Chief Information Commissioner at the Centre gets the same salary as the Chief Election Commissioner. In the states, the salary of state Information Commissioners and the Election Commissioner are on par.

Government sources said the Department Of Personnel and Training had suggested it might not be a good practice to link the salaries of Information Commissioners to that of the Election Commissioners, since the Election Commission was a constitutional body responsible for free and fair elections. In contrast, the Information Commission is a statutory body formed to look into complaints and requests for information under the RTI.

According to activists, a move to bring the salaries of RTI officers under the central and state governments, instead of the Parliament, may prove to be a coercive measure which may influence the freedom of officials to make decisions that go against the government.

RTI activist Anjali Bharadwaj has sought information from the Department of Personnel and Training on the proposed bill, through an RTI. In its response, the DoPT, however, said the bill is under consideration, because of which further information could not be provided.

Activists have criticised this lack of transparency and public consultation before the introduction of the bill. "We will be holding protests once the session starts against any amendment to this crucial act," said Ms. Bharadawaj.

Sources said the government had initially contemplated an ordinance, but finally decided against it in view of possible opposition to the move.

The amendment bill has been listed for "introduction, consideration and passing" in the monsoon session of parliament, which will be held from July 18 to August 10. Eighteen new bills have been listed for introduction in this session, which is expected to have 18 working days.

The opposition parties are yet to chalk out their plan of action, though the Left parties said they will raise the issue of increasing number of mob killings in house.

The ruling Telugu Desam Party of Andhra Pradesh will again pitch for a no-confidence motion against the government over its demand for special category status for the state.

The second half of the budget session of parliament was hugely disrupted due to a push for four no confidence motions against the government, which could not make any progress following constant protests by the AIADMK and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

The ruling Telugu Desam Party of Andhra Pradesh will again pitch for a no-confidence motion against the government over its demand for special category status for the state.

Article Original Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rti-law-amendment-on-governments-list-in-mo...

#concerns raised moves

#amend rti parliament

MS Dhoni booed by Indian spectators during 2nd ODI vs England

National

timesofindia

HIGHLIGHTS

*Dhoni was widely criticised for not showing initiative in his 59-ball 37 as India could only manage 236

*England's Joe Root found it "surprising", India's Chahal said that he was unaware about the booing incident

*Before the start of the 46th over, the match was as good as over with 110 required off 30 balls

LONDON: On a day when he crossed the 10,000-run milestone in ODIs, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was booed by the Indian supporters at the 'Home of Cricket' for his slow batting during the team's 86-run defeat against England in the second game of the three-match series.

Dhoni was widely criticised for not showing initiative in his 59-ball 37 as India could only manage 236 in 50 overs after England posted 322 for seven.

While England's Joe Root found it "surprising", India's Yuzvendra Chahal said that he was unaware about the booing incident.

Before the start of the 46th over, the match was as good as over with 110 required off 30 balls.

However, the crowd got restless when Dhoni failed to score off the first four balls of David Willey's over. There was booing after every dot ball, a rare occurrence considering the huge fan base Dhoni enjoys around the cricketing globe.

In fact, at the end of the over, substitute fielders Shardul Thakur and Axar Patel came in with an energy drink and replacement bat, which on air commentators termed as a message to push things.

Chahal, who came for the post-match press conference, however said that there was no message from the dressing room for Dhoni to accelerate. "I don't know what was said to him (when he changed bats). After Hardik was dismissed, there was only me, Siddarth Kaul, Umesh Yadav and Kuldeep. So it wasn't like there were 2-3 specialist batsmen remaining.

"He hadn't batted much, so this was a chance to get a knock. If he had hit a shot earlier and got out, we couldn't have even batted all 50 overs," Chahal said.

While it didn't concern the English team, Root did find it a bit surprising. "Yes (it was surprising), but ultimately it doesn't really concern us. We always try and judge how we approach the game and how we go about things.

We try to maintain a professional approach and be as ruthless as possible. We managed to see India through by bowling them out by the end of the game. So we are looking after our own game and putting ourselves in a strong position by the end of the game," Root said.

Article Original Source : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-in-england/ms-dhon...