Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM) President, Shah Faesal, Friday expressed concerns over the RTI Amendment Bill, arguing that the proposed amendments would weaken the Right to Information Act.
In a statement, Faesal alleged, “Through the RTI AmendmentBill, the Centre seeks to control the salaries and tenures of InformationCommissioners. The amendment is an attempt to undermine the autonomy andauthority of these officers.”
Lauding the efforts of several Chief InformationCommissioners, including Wajahat Habibullah and Shailesh Gandhi, forstrengthening RTI, he alleged, “Instead of strengthening the InformationCommissions, the central government looks hell bent upon undermining theirstatus and powers.”
The JKPM President suggested that the Bill should have beenexamined by a select committee of the Parliament and there should be a publicdebate over the proposed amendments.