RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak had asked the government to disclose contents of Delhi Police (Amendment) Bill, 2010. When he didn’t get a proper response, he complained to CIC on March 3.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Delhi government to develop a credible mechanism to give citizens a chance to debate legislative and policy changes affecting public life before they are finalised.
RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak had asked the government to disclose contents of Delhi Police (Amendment) Bill, 2010. When he didn’t get a proper response, he complained to CIC on March 3.
On March 26, the Delhi government informed Nayak that the bill had been placed on its website and comments invited from citizens, NGOs, resident welfare associations and the media.
On 30 March, Delhi Police said the bill had been placed on its website and also that of the Delhi government and Union home ministry. But CIC said the government was not complying with the suo motu provisions of the RTI Act.
Information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said, “Section 4(1)(c) of the RTI Act requires proactive disclosure of proposed laws/policies and amendments thereto or to existing laws/policies to enable citizens to debate and provide feedback to the government, which may be considered before finalising laws/policies.
“Given that the Delhi Police (Amendment) Bill is a significant legislative change, the authorities involved in its drafting had a duty to disclose its contents under the RTI Act. The public authority, however, acted only after the complainant approached the commission [CIC].
“The authority should have disclosed the bill’s contents suo motu and by omitting to do so, the purpose of the RTI Act stands defeated.”
Gandhi said CIC believes “citizens must be provided with means to debate changes in law and policy which are likely to affect their life”.
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