Govt refuses to disclose why CERT-In was exempted from RTI Act

The Indian government’s refusal to disclose the rationale behind exempting CERT-In from the Right to Information Act highlights a significant erosion of transparency in state institutions. By classifying the exemption process as a state secret, authorities effectively shield cybersecurity operations from public scrutiny. This lack of openness raises serious concerns about accountability, suggesting that the agency may operate with minimal oversight, which is particularly troubling for a body handling sensitive national security infrastructure. This stance contrasts sharply with previous practices where similar strategic entities were subject to disclosure requirements, implying a new precedent that prioritizes opacity over democratic accountability. Furthermore, the government’s dismissal of previous recommendations to mandate public consultation before such exemptions reinforces a pattern of unchecked executive power. The absence of procedural safeguards allows the state to arbitrarily exclude entities from transparency laws without justifying these decisions to citizens or stakeholders. For the open data community, this case illustrates the critical importance of challenging information asymmetry in governance. It underscores how legal exemptions can be exploited to conceal administrative processes, thereby hindering independent analysis and public trust. Advocating for robust freedom of information mechanisms is essential to ensure that powerful entities remain answerable to the public, preserving the integrity of open data principles against state secrecy.

Source: medianama.com
Published on 2024-01-09

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