Aug
1st 2019 - PMOPG/E/2019/0433449
Subject: Right To Information (RTI)
Dear
Respected Prime Minister Modiji:
The
RTI is one of the a sacred cows of our DEMOCRACY. It should be
protected from LYNCHING. It is gives the citizens the power to
question decisions, information and statements of the SERVANTS of the
country who are elected or appointed to SERVE the country. Questions
should be responded with SATYAM JAYATEY in the spirit of DHARMA.
If
we are to reduce corruption that has become an integral part of the
country's culture the CIC along with investigative bodies and
Officers have to be able to perform without being influenced by
vested interests.
A
denial of a question has to be justified. Denial of an RTI request
would be permissible only if it is a matter of NATIONAL SECURITY
wherein exposure would harm the Sovereignty of the NATION or deemed
extraneous by a judicial driven process.
Any
dilution of RTI amounts to CROOKERY, that would enable corrupt
parties with vested interests to engage in CORRUPTION.
If
policies, procedures and Laws are followed, then a response to an RTI
request should be straightforward. The only people who would be
affected would be those wishing to hide information or engage in
CROOKERY.
Vindictiveness
has no place in DHARMA. A person’s actions in the matter of
dispensing governance should be guided by Logic, Rationale, Ethics
and Morality.
The
RTI should be strengthened to include investigation of questionable
actions and prosecution of individuals involved if necessitated.
If
a question leads to exposing to information that is proven to be
wrong and therefore lies, the individual/administration should have
the humility to accept the fact, swallow their ego and apologies.
Policies
should be put in place to prevent nibbling at RTI with the intent of
making it ineffective, toothless and scuttling its independence.
Changes should be assigned to a Committee that involves Judges,
Ruling and Opposition Members of Both Houses. Citizens should be
given an opportunity to comment on changes to RTI.
At
some point in time, RTI should be included in the Constitution.
The
tenure of the RTI Officer should be fixed at some number of years.
The search and selection of officers should be done in a transparent
manner.
Finally,
investigations by Police/CBI/ED/CVC etc., Lokpal, Lokayuta, the CICs
of RTI should be free of any Executive or Legislative control, much
like the Judiciary and Election Commission.
Regards,
Rajan
Shastri
Jai
Hind,
Bharat
Mata Ki Jai,
God
Bless India,
Bharat
Zindabad,
