“Recent amendments to the Right to Information Act will have profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss.

n / dawn of transparency]

Weak institutional independence of Information Commissions

(A) Autonomy of ICs (i) No separate Budget of ICs -> depend on Ministry (ii) Vacancy -> blank position -> ineffectiveness (iii) Dependence on ministry / department for supply of data & information (iv) frequent rejection of request by ICs -> 4/10 request are rejected citing Section 7 of RTI (v) Dillution post 2019 Amendment -> Made IC dependent on funds from central government

(B) Independence of ICs (vi) Appontment -> executive dominance (vii) Salary -> changed from charges expense to equal to chief secretary (2019 Amendment) (viii) Removal -> easy executive removal process (ix) politicisation of office of ICs -> government dependence

diagram [Low independence] -> [Weak implementation] -> [Vicious cycle] | | | [Dillutes purpose of RTI] | | <--[Feeds culture of secrecy]

Steps Needed to Be Taken (A) 2nd ARC (i) Separate cadre of RTI officials (ii) Secretarial and funding independence to RTI.

(B) Satark Nagarik Sangathan Suggestion (iii) Move Back 2019 Amendment (iv) Security of Tenure for CIC & ICs (v) Data Office -> In all the department -> to ensure collection ease

(C) Other Suggestion (vi) Pro-active information display (eg Jan Soochna portal) (vii) Training of ICs & CICs. (viii) Filling up of vacancies.