NEW DELHI: The Government on Wednesday said the amendments to the Right to Information Act would make the legislation a "more powerful tool" for more transparent and just governance. The public would have increased access to information relating to not only the decisions taken but also "how" and "why" they were taken.

In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said the criticism, particularly with respect to the issue of "file notings," was largely misplaced since it was based on an incomplete knowledge of facts. The disclosure of file notings had become possible for the first time now. Only a small portion of the notings would remain exempt.

The amendment to Section 2 (i) (a) of the Act specifically provided that file notings of all plans, schemes and programmes of the Government relating to development and social issues shall be disclosed. The file notings exempted from disclosure were already exempted under Section 8(i) of the Act and to personnel-related matters such as examination, assessment and evaluation for recruitment and disciplinary proceedings.

When the RTI Act was introduced in Parliament, it was referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee. The Bill, as subsequently endorsed by the Standing Committee, did not include the words "file notings" in the definition of "information" given in Section 2 (f). Consequently, the Act, as passed by Parliament and to which the President gave his assent, excluded "file notings" from the definition of information accessible under the Act.

While it was true that the RTI Act did not include any provision for full disclosure of "file notings," and in spite of views expressed against such disclosure by experts and officials, the UPA Government remained committed to the principles of greater transparency and accountability in the public decision-making process, the statement said. The disclosure of file notings on the most important and vast bulk of Government activities had now become possible for the first time.

The amendments approved by the Union Cabinet also vastly increased the role and responsibility of the Central and State Information Commissions, which were independent authorities.

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