Dear All,
Readers may remember receiving email alerts about the Central Government’s attempts to the amend the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) through the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Bill, 2011 (NSRA Bill). For our previous email alerts and resource materials on this subject please click on or copy this URL into the address box of your browser: http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=34%3Aright-to-information&id=655%3Apossible-amendment-of-rti-act-2005-email-alerts&Itemid=84
I had circulated an action alert requesting people to write to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India against the move to amend the RTI Act. Several of you have responded positively and written to the PM and the MoS. I thank you all for supporting this cause.
I have attached two such letters endorsing the demand not to amend the RTI Act. The first is from Mr. Shailesh Gandhi, Information Commissioner, Central Information Commission. The second is from Mr. Fali Nariman, distinguished jurist, senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India and former member of the Rajya Sabha. He has copied his letter to several Members of Parliament.
I thank both Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Nariman for lending their voice and support to this cause. Two Members of Parliament have already expressed their dissent to the Government’s proposal in the report on the NSRA Bill prepared by the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science, Technology, Environment and Forests. A copy of this report is attached.
If you have not written to the PM and the Minister of State yet, you can still do it.
You may like to use the following message or adapt it to suit your thoughts to urge the Prime Minister and the Minister of State in his office to withdraw amendments to the RTI Act:
"We the people of India who have been actively using RTI to promote transparency and accountability in government are distressed to note that your Government has proposed amendments to the Right to Information Act, 2005 through The Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Bill, 2011. These amendments are unnecessary in view of the adequate protection for all legitimate interests provided under Section 8(1) of the RTI Act. The exclusion of special nuclear regulatory authorities referred to in Clause 25 even before they are established by the Government is against the letter and spirit of Section 24 of the RTI Act. We urge you to recommend deletion of all clauses that seek to amend the RTI Act. Greater transparency can ensure greater safety and accountability.
Pls send your emails/postcards to:
Dr. Manmohan Singh (manmohan@sansad.nic.in)
Prime Minister of India
South Block
Raisina Hill,
New Delhi- 110 001
And
Shri V Narayanasamy (mos-pp@nic.in)
Minister of State
Prime Minister’s Office
South Block, Raisina Hill
New Delhi- 110 001
Kindly copy your emails to my address as well. Please do not ignore or delay this matter. It is our safety that I am talking about – “yours and mine”
In order to access our previous email alerts on RTI and related issues please click on: http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65&Itemid=84 You will find the links at the top of this web page. If you do not wish to receive these email alerts please send an email to this address indicating your refusal.
Thanks
Sincerely,
Venkatesh Nayak
Programme Coordinator
Access to Information Programme
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
B-117, First Floor, Sarvodaya Enclave
New Delhi- 110 017
Tel: +91-11-43180215/ 43180201
Fax: +91-26864688
Skype: venkatesh.nayak@skype.com
Alternate Email: nayak.venkatesh@gmail.com
Website: www.humanrightsinitiative.org
Attachements: