The Hindu : Front Page : Right to Information Bill passed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 12, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

Right to Information Bill passed

K.V. Prasad

It will usher in a new era of governance, says Manmohan

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Right to Information Bill, in keeping with a promise the United Progressive Alliance had made in its Common Minimum Programme. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated that it would usher in a new era in the process of governance, performance and efficiency.

146 amendments

The Bill, with 146 amendments, was adopted by voice vote. The Opposition benches remained empty owing to the boycott.

Intervening in the debate, Dr. Singh said the legislation would ensure that the benefits of growth would flow to all sections of the people, eliminate corruption and bring the concerns of the common man to the heart of all processes of governance.

The Government accepted an amendment proposed by the Congress chief whip, Pawan Bansal.

The architecture

The Bill, Dr. Singh said, lays down the architecture for accessing information, which is simple, easy, time-bound and inexpensive.

There will be stringent penalties for failing to provide information or affecting its flow. "In fact, it imposes obligations on agencies to disclose information suo motu, thus reducing the cost of access."

The Prime Minister wanted civil servants to view the Bill in a positive spirit. They should not see it as a "draconian law for paralysing Government, but as an instrument for improving Government-citizen interfacing, resulting in a friendly, caring and effective functioning.''

Dr. Singh emphasised that the Bill was more far-reaching and effective than the existing Freedom of Information Act. He praised the role of the National Advisory Council headed by Sonia Gandhi in bringing into focus major drawbacks in the earlier legislation. He urged the State Governments to take the initiative and establish State Information Commissions.

Sonia's enthusiasm

Ms. Gandhi was among those who took an active part in the voice-vote exercise: she was seen thumping the desk with both hands.

She later walked up to the Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's chair to exchange greetings. She also had word with the Telugu Desam Party leader K. Yerran Naidu.

While supporting the legislation he had said that its "poor drafting'' showed up as the Government itself had brought forward nearly 150 amendments.

Moving the Bill, the Minister for Personnel, Suresh Pachauri, said some of the clauses would come into effect soon after it was passed by the Rajya Sabha and received presidential assent. Others would become operational within 120 days.

He said an Information Commissioner would be selected by a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.

Under the provisions of the Bill, there will be no fees for people below poverty line.

The exemptions list was the least among similar laws enacted by other countries, it was stated.

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