A path-breaking bill seeking to provide right to information was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday amidst an Opposition boycott with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asserting the measure would see the dawn of a new era in governance and eliminate the scourge of corruption.
Intervening in the discussion on Right to Information Bill, 2005, Singh said everyone, including civil servants, should see the measure in a "positive spirit" and "not as a draconian law for paralysing government".
The Prime Minister wanted the bureaucracy to consider the bill as an instrument for improving Government-citizen interface resulting in a friendly, caring and effective Government.
The bill was passed by a voice vote after Government got a huge 150 amendments to the draft approved by the House following a reply by Minister of State for Personnel Suresh Pachauri.