Government to Address RTI - Official Secrets Tangle
Updated: Apr 16, 2015 12:33:26pm
New Delhi, April 16 (KNN) The Centre today announced the formation of a three-member committee of senior bureaucrats to study the review of the Official Secrets Act (OSA) in the wake of the requirements under the Right to Information (RTI).
The committee, including the Secretaries of Home, Law and Personnel, was formed after the Cabinet Secretary met in February and decided to study the issue in depth, official sources said adding that the first meeting will be held tomorrow.
That the move came amid mounting pressure for declassification of files relating to the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose led to an interpretation that the government has moved with alacrity on the specific issue.
The committee will examine certain provisions of the OSA and the RTI Act and whether and how much old official files could be declassified, the sources said.
The issue is being raised by the RTI activists for quite sometime. In their opinion Government Departments often refuses to reply uncomfortable issues under the garb of Official Secrets. In the recent past, a large number of RTI queries were bounced by the Prime Minister’s Office and other important Ministries taking refuge of Official Secrets Act.
The Committee may bring transparency in the entire Information scenario eliminating bureaucratic discretions. (KNN/DB)
The committee, including the Secretaries of Home, Law and Personnel, was formed after the Cabinet Secretary met in February and decided to study the issue in depth, official sources said adding that the first meeting will be held tomorrow.
That the move came amid mounting pressure for declassification of files relating to the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose led to an interpretation that the government has moved with alacrity on the specific issue.
The committee will examine certain provisions of the OSA and the RTI Act and whether and how much old official files could be declassified, the sources said.
The issue is being raised by the RTI activists for quite sometime. In their opinion Government Departments often refuses to reply uncomfortable issues under the garb of Official Secrets. In the recent past, a large number of RTI queries were bounced by the Prime Minister’s Office and other important Ministries taking refuge of Official Secrets Act.
The Committee may bring transparency in the entire Information scenario eliminating bureaucratic discretions. (KNN/DB)
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