Transparency Law | CIC’s evolution from defender to bystander
The original Op-Ed was published in the Deccan Herald. Read here.
October 12 (today) marks 18 years since the Central Information Commission (CIC) was set up. One would think that 18 years is a good enough time to shine the light of transparency, but with more than 300,000 complaints pending and six commissions hea…
Over the past few years, the CIC has seen a significant shift in its role within India’s transparency framework. This apex body responsible for adjudicating Right to Information (RTI) appeals and complaints once stood as a staunch defender of the people’s right to know.
It issued orders for the disclosure of critical public interest information, such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational credentials. It even aimed to enhance transparency in public life by declaring, in June 2013, that all political parties should fall under the purview of the RTI Act (though this directive is currently pending Supreme Court adjudication).
However, in recent years, the CIC’s commitment to fostering a culture of free flow of information has waned. It has, at times, acted as a hindrance rather than a facilitator of information dissemination, even when they were essential for public interest.
The CIC, designed to be an independent body, now appears to have been repurposed to bog down citizens seeking accountability. A quick look at recently retired Chief Information Commissioner Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha’s tenure illustrates this concerning trend.
Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/transparency-law-cics-evolution-from-defender-to-bystander-2723239
