Change in RTI Act gets Cabinet nod,parties exempted

The CIC had in June held that six national parties — the Congress,BJP,NCP,CPM,CPI and BSP — were substantially funded indirectly by the government and had the character of a public authority,compelling them to share information under the RTI.

It had directed parties to appoint public information officers for the same. The order had made India only the third country in the world after Poland and Nepal to bring political parties under the ambit of the transparency law.

The Cabinet observed that the CIC had made a liberal interpretation of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act,leading to an erroneous conclusion that political parties were public authorities. It was also pointed out that bringing political parties under the Act was never visualised when the law was made.

The Department of Personnel and Training,the nodal department for implementing the RTI Act,in consultation with the law ministry,moved the amendment,which now specifically says the definition of public authority does not apply to political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act,1951.