The Ministry of Personnel and Training (DoPT) last week initiated moves to bring investigating agencies,paramilitary forces and police departments under the ambit of the 2005 Right to Information Act (RTI). Several organisationsthat now figure in the list of 18 exempted from RTI disclosures in Schedule 2 of the RTI Acthave received an official intimation from the DoPT about their likely inclusion and have been asked to reply with their objections,if any. The investigating agencies on the list of proposed inclusions are the Enforcement Directorate,the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence,the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau and the Narcotics Control Bureau. While these agencies had so far enjoyed immunity from RTI disclosure,the Central Bureau of Investigation,has all along been covered under the RTI. The paramilitary forces that have been informed about the move include the Border Security Force,the National Security Guards and the Indo Tibetan Border Force. DoPT officials explained that at recent review meetings conducted on the subject,it was made very clear that RTI exemptions should be reserved strictly for intelligence agencies. The final list of organisations set to lose their exemption will be decided at a Secretary-level meeting to be convened shortly, an official maintained.
