Civil society organisations call on govt. to stop gutting of RTI Act

The proposed amendment to India’s Right to Information Act threatens to dismantle a critical mechanism for civic oversight by removing the public interest proviso that allows disclosure of personal information when necessary for accountability. Civil society organizations warn that this change creates a blanket prohibition on sharing data, even in cases involving significant public concern, thereby severely limiting transparency and hindering social audits that rely on verifying government claims against individual records. This development highlights the growing tension between digital privacy regulations and the public’s right to know, particularly as the amendment was tucked into unrelated data protection legislation. By prioritizing strict privacy interpretations over democratic accountability, the government risks undermining decades of progress in empowering citizens to scrutinize public officials and expenditure. The lack of substantive engagement with these concerns suggests a deliberate shift away from open governance principles. This issue is vital to open data discourse because it demonstrates how legal frameworks can restrict data accessibility under the guise of privacy, setting a dangerous precedent for global transparency efforts. Open data initiatives depend on the ability to access and verify information for public benefit; removing such avenues erodes trust in government institutions and stifles civil society’s capacity to ensure integrity. Protecting these mechanisms is essential for maintaining a functional, accountable democracy where information remains a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion.

Source: thehindu.com
Published on 2025-03-22

Civil society organisations call on govt. to stop gutting of RTI Act

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