Prologue : Recent CIC order regarding putting political parties under RTI has sparked a controversy and public debate with political parties opposing CIC order and are ready with an amendment to RTI Act, 2005. Arguments of various players are provided in dialogue format below.
CIC : Major Political parties are substantially funded by central government, thus these are public authorities under section 2(4) of RTI act and thus they should come under RTI Act. This funding comes in the form of tax exceptions, buildings and residences provided to political parties & their MPs etc. Last 5 year Tax exemption values are, BJP = 270 crore; congress = 540 crore; BSP = 149 crore etc.
Political Parties : 1. What additional information can anyone get from political parties which is not available right now?
2. RTI Act is for government bodies and it is absurd to bring political parties under it because political parties are voluntary organizations.
3. Political parties are responsible to Election Commission (EC) which is having all the details of our funding. Go and ask EC using RTI.
4. People who have extra time will keep on filing RTIs and will harass parties.
RTI Activists : (Response to above points)
1. Additional information which we want to know is:
a. about internal functioning of Political parties
i. How office bearers are chosen
ii. How a candidate is selected for giving ticket
iii. How & Who maintains parties electoral rolls
2. Bullshit ! (RTI Act defines something known as Public Authority, and any organization having substantial funding from govt. should be under RTI. Even Tirupati Temple is under ambit of RTI)
3. Election commission has no information on funding which are less than 20,000 rs each & internal functioning (1 above)
4. Bullshit ! You put all information and public domain.
Other Points :
5. Even if Political parties are of the opinion that CIC has erred in his decision, they should have challenged CIC order in high court, what is the haste in bringing amendment?
6. How does Transparency hurt anybody?
7. Transparency = basic element of democracy & RTI act will bring Transparency
Dinesh
Reference : Rajya Sabha TV Debates
CIC : Major Political parties are substantially funded by central government, thus these are public authorities under section 2(4) of RTI act and thus they should come under RTI Act. This funding comes in the form of tax exceptions, buildings and residences provided to political parties & their MPs etc. Last 5 year Tax exemption values are, BJP = 270 crore; congress = 540 crore; BSP = 149 crore etc.
Political Parties : 1. What additional information can anyone get from political parties which is not available right now?
2. RTI Act is for government bodies and it is absurd to bring political parties under it because political parties are voluntary organizations.
3. Political parties are responsible to Election Commission (EC) which is having all the details of our funding. Go and ask EC using RTI.
4. People who have extra time will keep on filing RTIs and will harass parties.
RTI Activists : (Response to above points)
1. Additional information which we want to know is:
a. about internal functioning of Political parties
i. How office bearers are chosen
ii. How a candidate is selected for giving ticket
iii. How & Who maintains parties electoral rolls
2. Bullshit ! (RTI Act defines something known as Public Authority, and any organization having substantial funding from govt. should be under RTI. Even Tirupati Temple is under ambit of RTI)
3. Election commission has no information on funding which are less than 20,000 rs each & internal functioning (1 above)
4. Bullshit ! You put all information and public domain.
Other Points :
5. Even if Political parties are of the opinion that CIC has erred in his decision, they should have challenged CIC order in high court, what is the haste in bringing amendment?
6. How does Transparency hurt anybody?
7. Transparency = basic element of democracy & RTI act will bring Transparency
Dinesh
Reference : Rajya Sabha TV Debates
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