Repeal OSA, tells 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission

New Delhi, Jun 9 (UNI) The Second Administrative Reforms Commission today sought the repeal of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and incorporation of suitable safeguards in the National Security Act to protect security of the country.

The Commission, headed by veteran Congress leader Veerappa Moily, today submitted its first report, which deals with "Right to Information - Master key to good governance," to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"The Official Secrets Act in its current form is incongruous with the regime of transparency in a democratic society," the report said.

On the recently-passed Right to Information (RTI) Act, the commission said at least half the members of the Information Commissions should be drawn from non-civil Service background, so that it would be represented by members with rich and varied experience in society.

It recommended setting up of a 'Public Records Office" in each state as a repository of expertise, to monitor, supervise, control and inspect all public records. " Complete reorganisation of public records is a precondition for effective implementation of RTI." In this context, the commission suggested that one per cent of the funds of all flagship programmes of the Central government should be earmarked for five years for updating all records and building necessary infrastructure.

The Information Commission should be entrusted with the authority and responsibility of monitoring the implementation of the RTI Act in all public authorities.

It wanted fixing of clear and unambiguous guidelines to determine which non-governmental organisations would come under the purview of RTI Act.

Since most requests for information are usually to use it as a tool for grievance redressal, the commission wanted the centre to advise the states to establish independent public grievance redressal authorities to deal with complaints of delay, harassment and corruption. These authorities should work in close coordination with the Information Commission.

In order to ensure that the system is not overloaded and discipline and harmony not jeopardised, it suggested to put in place certain safeguards to discourage frivolous and vexatious requests.

A roadmap should be charted out for effective implementation of RTI Act in the Legislature and Judiciary at all levels.

The Commission made specific recommendations pertaining to a variety of issues, including a civil service conduct rules and office procedures, record keeping, capacity building and awareness generation, and the exercise of power to remove difficulties.

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission, constituted in August 2005, took up study of four subjects initially: Right to Information; a case study of Employment Guarantee Act in the context of the shift to entitlement with Union funding; Crisis Management; and Public Order and Conflict Management.

In addition, Civil Service Reforms, Local Governments and Ethics in Governance have been taken up on priority.

UNI SH PR HT1925