Parliament approves the RTI Amendment Bill

Rajya Sabha passes it after Opposition stages a walkout, accusing the government of intimidation and horse trading

Parliament on Thursday approved the amendment to the RTI Act, with Rajya Sabha on passing it after negating an Opposition-sponsored motion to send it to a House committee for greater scrutiny.

The motion was negated by 117 members voting against the motion and 75 members voting in favour.

The Amendment Bill stipulates that the terms of office of the Central and State Information Commissioners (CIC/SIC) will be determined by the Central government as against the existing provision which guarantees a fixed term of five years or up to an age of 65 years. In addition, the Bill also proposes that their salaries, allowances, and other terms and conditions of service will be determined by the Central government.

The Bill was passed after high drama in the House over what Opposition charged was “intimidation” by the treasury benches to get the motion for sending the amendment to the RTI Act to the Select Committee rejected.

Read: How do the Select and Standing Committees of the Rajya Sabha work?

C.M. Ramesh, who recently quit TDP to join BJP, was seen getting vote slips signed by members and was confronted by an angry Opposition, led by the Congress.

Deputy Chairman Harivansh asked Mr. Ramesh to go back to his seat as Congress members Viplov Thakur and others tried to snatch the vote slips from hands of Mr. Ramesh.

The House then plunged into turmoil as Opposition members rushed into the Well, shouting slogans against such “strong-arm” tactics.

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the House has witnessed how “303 seats are won”, an apparent reference to BJP winning absolute majority in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Treasury benches countered this.

Mr. Azad then led the Opposition walk out saying they were boycotting the proceedings.

Result of the division was announced after the walkout.

The Motion for sending the amendment to the select committee was put to vote after a division was sought when the pandemonium broke out. The ensuing vote on the passage of the amendment after the Opposition walkout, was carried by voice vote.

Replying to the debate on the amendment, DoPT Minister Jitendra Singh said the amendment was not brought without any motivation and was in good faith. This, he said, will lead to institutionalisation of chief information commission and strengthen the provision of RTI Act.

Source: Read Full Article