Bihar activists to file lawsuit against changes in RTI act

PATNA - Right to Information (RTI) activists in Bihar have decided to challenge in court the changes made to it by the state government.

After opposition parties slammed the move to charge more for RTI applications, the activists have decided to challenge the government’s decision in the Patna High Court.

“We will file a case in the court to challenge the changes to the RTI Act by the state government,” RTI activist Rupesh said Saturday.

Rupesh, associated with Suchna Adhikar Abhiyan, said RTI activists were forced to take legal course to fight against anti-people and undemocratic move of the Bihar government.

“We will also launch a signature campaign across the state to mobilise peoples’ support and to stage a statewide dharna (sit-in) on Nov 30 followed to the RTI Act by the state government,” Rupesh told IANS.

Bihar Suchna Adhikar Manch convenor Parveen Amanullah said the changes were in violation of the fundamental rights of people who were free to seek information from the government.

“It was an illegal move of the state government to make changes to the RTI,” she said.

She said the move will serve the interests of government officials only.

Opposition leaders described the move as aimed at shielding corruption. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Congress and Left parties are up in arms against the changes.

The Bihar government made changes to the RTI Act Tuesday under which a person cannot seek more than one piece of information in one application. Now a petitioner will have to pay Rs.10 per query whereas earlier several queries could be put through in one petition by paying Rs.10.

Deepak Kumar, principal secretary, personnel and administrative reforms department, said the state government has approved the Bihar Right to Information Act (Amendment) Rules, 2009, seeking minor alterations in the RTI Act 2005.

“The changes were made to make RTI more effective and prevent its misuse. They were as per central government guidelines,” he said.

Last week, the state government launched a helpline for those seeking information under the RTI Act and said stern action would be taken against officials found guilty of harassing petitioners.

Official sources said that 42,000 of the 50,000 applications received under the RTI Act during 2007-08 have been disposed of.