Government decision confuses Vigilance Directorate

Thiruvananthapuram: The Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau has sought clarification on the Cabinet decision to cancel the office order redistributing work.

Seeking clarification on the confusion created by the Cabinet decision on disclosure of information under RTI, Vigilance Director Sankar Reddy has written to the government that the withdrawal of the circular alone would not bring clarity on the matter. The work relating to enquiries against present and former ministers and all India service officers were redistributed and brought under the top secret (T) section for administrative convenience including issue of no-objection certificate to officers.

The government had earlier issued a notification excluding the T Section of the Bureau from the purview of the Right to Information. When protest arose, it sought to withdraw the office order which gave clarity on what information were all being excluded, instead of the notificiation.

The government has also taken steps to limit the provision in the RTI Act for free supply of information to those below the poverty line. On January 17 last year, it issued a notification limiting the information that can be provided free of charge to 20 pages by amending the Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules.

President of the RTI Federation D. B. Binu said that free supply of information to people living below the poverty line was a right granted under the Act. As such, the State government did not have the powers to dilute the provision through rules.

The government has also issued an order in the past prohibiting release of information on Muallperiyar while cases are pending before courts.