Official file noting to be exempted from RTI Act

New Delhi, Jul 20: The Union Cabinet today approved introducing in the Monsoon Session of Parliament an amendment exempting file notings of officials from the Right to Information Act, a step described as retrograde by the right to information campaigners.

The government's decision comes just days after a countrywide campaign to popularise the RTI ended.

The Act, if amended, will allow the public access to only file notings in developmental and social issues through the right to information.

Aruna Roy, the prime mover of the right to information campaign, said the decision was a setback.

''This is completely unreasonable and unwarranted. The Act has been in force for six months now and every single appeal has been judiciously dealt with. There could be no problems in Section 8.'' She said the government would take advantage of the Amendment to hide all the necessary notings critical in forming policy and taking decisions.

The basis for transparency and disclosure, which was corruption in government, will now be eroded, she added.

Earlier, announcing the decision after the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, however, said the amendments, to be introduced in the Act, would remove the ambiguities and make the provisions of the Act effective and progressive.

UNI