Administrative reforms commission submits first report on right to information to Prime Minister
The second
Administrative Reforms Commission Chairperson, Shri Veerappa Moily today
submitted the first report on ‘Right to Information – Master key to good
governance’ to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. The following are the
key recommendations of the Commission on the subject:
Ø
The Official Secrets Act, 1923(OSA) in its current form is
incongruous with the regime of transparency in a democratic society. OSA should be repealed, and suitable
safeguards to protect security of State should be incorporated in the National
Security Act.
Ø
At least half the members of the Information Commissions
should be drawn from non-Civil Service background, so that members represent
the rich variety and varied experience in society.
Ø
Complete reorganization of public records is a precondition
for effective implementation of RTI. A
public Records Office should be established in each State as a repository of expertise, to monitor,
supervise, control and inspect all public records. 1% of the funds of all flagship programmes of GoI should be
earmarked for five years for updating all records and building necessary
infrastructure.
Ø
The Information Commission should be entrusted with the
authority and responsibility of monitoring the implementation of the RTI Act in
all public authorities.
Ø
Clear and unambiguous guidelines need to be evolved to
determine which non-governmental organizations would come under the purview of
RTI Act.
Ø
Most requests for information are usually to use it as a
tool for grievance redressal. States
may be advised 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.
Ø
Certain safeguards should be introduced to discourage
frivolous and vexatious requests so that the system is not overloaded, and
discipline and harmony are not jeopardized.
Ø
A roadmap should be charted out for effective implementation
of RTI Act in the Legislature and Judiciary at all levels.
Ø
The Commission made specific recommendations, and suggested
a roadmap to implement each of them.
Detailed recommendations pertain 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 are taken up on priority.
* * *
YSR/CS
(Release ID :18327)