This is the fifth time that the CIC has sent such a notice in order to get political parties to agree to come under RTI act
The Central Information Commission (CIC) today directed the presidents or general secretaries of 6 political parties including the Congress and the BJP to appear before it on the 7th of next month to discuss ways of them being included under the Right to Information act (RTI).
This is the fifth time that the CIC has sent such a notice in order to get the political parties to agree to come under the RTI act.
Almost 18 months ago, a full bench of the CIC had passed a landmark order making six major political parties answerable to the citizens of India under the RTI act. But even as 2014 draws to a close, nothing seems to have changed on the ground. Political parties have outright refused to be placed under the transparency law claiming that as they don't come under the definition of 'public authorities', so they are out of the purview of the RTI.
In fact, the six parties including the Congress, BJP, CPI(M), CPI, NCP and BSP did not even bother to show up at the CIC's last hearing on the November 21 despite being sent a notice.
"It is unfortunate that a statutory authority is being undermined and the Authority itself is party to its own undermining," says Professor Jagdeep Chhokar, one of the founders of ADR, a petitioner in the case.
One would wonder then as to why is the CIC so hesitant to crack the whip? Especially when it has powers to impose a fine of Rs 25,000 for each RTI query that is wrongfully denied to citizens? That can soon become hefty, if one party gets just 100 queries and does not answer them, they could end up being fined up to Rs 25 lakh.
In fact, RTI activists are of the view that a game of musical chairs has been on at the CIC ever since Rajiv Mathur, the last CIC who retired from the post, has been vacant. With the government still looking for someone to fill the top job of Chief Information Commissioner, sources in the CIC say that several if not all of the 7 information commissioners are keen to be considered for the top post.
All that the successful candidate for the top post needs is for the government and the opposition to agree on a name. Finding that agreement may not be too difficult. Ironically while the Congress, credited for enacting the RTI act, continues to cry foul over being denied the official status of the leader of opposition by the BJP-led government, both along with most other political parties agree on wanting to stay out of the RTI purview.