CIC and RTI Act

The statement comes after the CCIC in a verdict noted that even though 4 million candidates appear every year for examitions that are being conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), it is not a public authority under RTI Act. There are many other bodies under private-public-partnership (PPP), cooperative sector, sports bodies and others, which even though declared public authorities by Central Information Commission, are evading the provision by getting stay orders on CIC verdicts from courts. 

Many aspects of day-to-day life like banking and telecommunications are presently domited by private sector indulging in lot of malpractices to mint money.

The Prime Minister is likely to iugurate a new CIC building on November 21 at New Delhi. It will be the most appropriate occasion for him to announce all PPPs, sports bodies, cooperative societies and other such bodies affecting the lives of millions like IBPS to be directly under RTI Act to avoid chances of stay orders on CIC verdicts obtained after much effort. 

RTI Act can also be considered to be applied on private companies having a turnover of some stipulated amount, especially for those related to consumer products or services. For others, the provision of pro-active disclosures of certain basic information may be made compulsory on websites.

Madhu Aarawal,

1775 Kucha Lattushah,

Dariba, Chandni Chowk, DELHI