Mumbai activists demand clarity on RTI amendments

After slamming the government for amending the RTI rules, activists have demanded clarity regarding what the government really intends through the amendments.

Activists are calling for more clarity on certain issues, prominently the 150 word limit and the issue of multiple subject matters.

“If read strictly by the printed word, the amendment pertains to subject matter and not the description (where most of the content in an application exists). The description can be as long possible,” said Bhaskar Prabu, an RTI activist.

Vijay Kumbhar, another RTI activist and columnist, said, “What will the PIO (public information officer) do in that scenario? What if the application is 151 words? Will the application be rejected altogether?”

According to Prabhu, if there are multiple subject matters in an application, the PIO is supposed to give information only on the first subject matter as per the amendments.

The activists will soon voice these issues to the government’s subordinate legislation committee.