Amendment to RTI Act will weaken transparency regime: JKPM Vice President

Amendment to RTI Act will weaken transparency regime: In a press statement JKPM Vice President Advocate Syed Iqbal Tahir has criticized the NDA government in relation to the RTI Amendment Bill, 2019. He alleged that  the amendment would weaken the Right to Information Act.  Through the The RTI Amendment Bill , the Centre seeks to control the salaries and tenures of the information commissioners in both the central and state information commissions.
Iqbal Tahir alleged that the amendment was a clear attempt to undermine the autonomy of the information commissions. While lauding the efforts of various information commissions in strengthening transparency in the governance, he alleged that  instead of strengthening the information commissions, the Central government is bent upon undermining their powers. He stated that if the Centre would control the salaries and tenures of information commissioners, it could impact their independent functioning. The amendment means that the government may threaten or lure the information commissioners to suit its political exigencies. It could also lead to arbitrary removal or extension and curtailment or increase in salary depending upon the suitability for the government.
He also expressed grave concern that the amendments to the RTI Act were introduced amidst a shroud of secrecy and there were no public consultations. He appealed to the Central government not to implement the amendments as they diluted the framework of transparency and information in the country