RTI on its knees

THE Right to Information (RTI) Act, a landmark legislation enacted by the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government with the twin objectives of empowering citizens and ensuring transparency in governance, will complete two decades of its existence later this year. However, there is little to celebrate as this law is losing its potency due to the apathy or insincerity of Central as well as state governments. Vacancies in the Central Information Commission (CIC) and state information commissions are not being filled, even as the backlog of RTI appeals is rising alarmingly. And then there is an OTP-via-email feature that works erratically, frustrating applicants who wish to know the status of their queries and the replies from government departments.

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“What is the use of RTI if there are no people to work for it?” the Supreme Court has wondered, while ordering the Union Government’s Department of Personnel and Training and various states to submit a timeline for filling vacancies. The CIC alone has eight key posts vacant, while the count of pending appeals has crossed 23,000. Some states have conveniently allowed their information panels to become defunct. The dilly-dallying is nothing but an attempt to ward off truth-seekers. The modus operandi is simple: Keep them waiting, tire them out and they will eventually lose interest.

Justice delayed is justice denied. The same holds true for the information that curious people seek from public authorities. Governments are wary of disclosures as they have plenty of skeletons in their cupboard. Yet again, the apex court has intervened to shake the rulers out of slumber. There is a dire need to give the RTI Act a new lease of life so that citizens become active partners in democracy. The BJP-led Centre would be doing a huge disservice to the nation if it lets partisan politics blunt this powerful tool for raising public awareness.