RTI AMENDMENT BILL 2013

• The government has introduced in the Lok Sabha the RTI Amendment Bill 2013 to nullify the June 3, 2013 order of the Central Information Commission which had ruled that national political parties (INC, BJP, CPIM, CPI, NCP and BSP) are public authorities under Section 2 (h) of the RTI Act.

 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Introduced by: V. Narayanasamy, MoS Personnel
• The Bill exempts political parties from the definition of “public authority” and hence from law itself.
• It justifies the exclusion saying, “Declaring a political party as public authority under the RTI Act would hamper its smooth internal working which is not the objective of the said Act and was not envisaged by Parliament under the RTI Act. Further, political rivals may misuse the provisions of the RTI Act thereby adversely affecting the functioning of political parties.”
• The Bill grants “retrospective” immunity from the RTI Act to political parties and says the amendment would take force from June 3, 2013, the date of CIC order.
• It amends Section 2 (h) of the RTI Act which defines a public authority and adds an explanation to this clause stating -- the expression “authority or body of institution of self government established or constituted by any law made by Parliament shall not include any association or body or individuals registered or recognized as a political party under the Representation of People Act, 1951.”