Q19.Recent amendments to the Right toInformation Act will have a profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss.

The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, established Central and State Information Commissions as independent statutory bodies to ensure transparency and accountability in governance.

Key Amendments (2019)

The 2019 amendments empowered the Central Government to prescribe the tenure, salaries, and other terms and conditions of service for Information Commissioners.

Impact on Autonomy and Independence

• Shift from fixed, statute-defined terms to executive-determined conditions undermines financial and administrative autonomy.
• Potential executive influence over service conditions may hinder commissioners' ability to make fearless decisions.
• Critics argue this weakens the RTI framework, potentially leading to a decline in transparency and accountability.

Government's Rationale

The government's stated rationale included bringing parity with other tribunals and rationalizing service conditions across various bodies.

While aiming for rationalization, the amendments raise concerns about the erosion of institutional independence crucial for effective oversight. A balanced approach is needed to uphold the spirit of the RTI Act.