Govt justifies keeping parties out of RTI ambit

The government on today justified its decision to amend the RTI Act to keep political parties out of it, saying they are not public authorities but voluntary association of people.

The government on Friday justified its decision to amend the RTI Act to keep political parties out of it, saying they are not public authorities but voluntary association of people.

HT Image

“A political party is a voluntary association of persons. People can join or leave a party. We get elected. We are not appointed like officials,” law minister Kapil Sibal said.

“Political parties will not be able to function (if they are brought within RTI). We will not be able to open our minds within our party,” he said.
Sibal maintained that if political parties are brought under the RTI, they will be flooded with applications seeking information about candidates selection, who dissented or differed on which decision and other such sensitive details.

The minister said financial dealings of parties are available with the Election Commission and citizens are free to seek information from there.