THE NEWS IN PROPORTION
24 June 2017
Right To Info
DATA REVOLUTION IN THE ERA OF CENSORSHIP
It’s not only books and films that are censored!

In the shrill discourse over freedom of speech, the selective publication, and even overt suppression, of actionable development data is often overlooked. Amid calls for a next-gen data revolution, Biraj Swain highlights this and other challenges that lie in its path.
Government Laws

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RTI-ON-WHEELS
The bus that brought in transparency in J&K flood relief The RTI-on-Wheels bus, an initiative of Gujarat-based organisation Janpath and the Association for India's Development, has inspired the people of J&K to press for their right to information and to a government that works for them. L S Aravinda reports.
Government J & K
ATTACKS ON RTI ACTIVISTS
Does the government really want to protect whistleblowers? Around 40 RTI activists in the country have been killed in recent years, several of them after the passage of the Whistleblowers Protection Act. Satarupa Sen Bhattacharya explores why the latter law has been unable to achieve its stated objective.
Law and Order Government Laws
RTI POWERS FOR THE CAG
What good is an auditor without information? A recent letter written by the CAG Shashikant Sharma to the finance minister, seeking access to required information through RTI, exposes once more the lacunae in the powers of the Supreme Audit Institution. Himanshu Upadhyaya analyses the debate around the issue.
Public Funds Government Laws
RIGHT TO INFORMATION
CIC: Delaying complaints against delays! Anger and frustration is on the rise over inordinate delays by the Central Information Commission in responding to or inquiring into complaints from RTI appellants. Revathi Siva Kumar looks at what ails the institution.
Laws
RTI & OTHER LAWS
Can a post box save the Indian whistle blower? A recent court ruling allows RTI applicants to seek information without divulging their address, by simply citing a post box number. While this may partially stem the spate of attacks on activists, a lot more is needed to effectively shield whistle blowers, finds Navya P K .
Law and Order Justice RTI Law and Policy
CRIME STATISTICS
Suicides due to poverty: How reliable is our data? While researching suicide data published by the NCRB, Shambhu Ghatak files an RTI enquiry on how the Bureau identifies causes behind suicides and compiles the data across states to arrive at national figures. The response reveals the lack of clarity in the exercise.
Labour Issues Exposes
TRANSPARENCY OF POLITICAL PARTIES
Court battle likely after CIC's RTI ruling Indian political parties have been notorious for their opacity, particularly when it comes to questions of their funding. A recent quasi-judicial order bringing six large national parties within the ambit of the RTI Act 2005 might change that. A quick summary of the latest developments:
Government Laws
RTI IN ACTION
Rules to restrict rights Governments have been changing the rules of the RTI Act, trying all sorts of things to dilute its provisions. Most of these are done without consulting the public. Navya P K reports.
RTI Law and Policy
RTI APPOINTMENTS
SC orders revamp of RTI regime RTI activists across the country will be cheered by the apex court's order to make transparent appointments to the posts of Information Commissioners, and recognise the quasi-judicial nature of their functions. Krishnaraj Rao writes.
GOVT REPORTS
Nothing secret about Panel reports Central Information Commission asks MoEF to make an environment expert panel's report public, outlining arguments that could be used for disclosure of many other documents. Krishnaraj Rao writes.
Environment
RTI RULES
Maharashtra secretly amends RTI Rules The State has quietly pushed through a set of changes to the way it treats RTI applications. Activists discovered it quite accidentally, and are shocked. Krishnaraj Rao writes.
MAHARASHTRA
RIGHT TO INFORMATION
DoPT throws open CIC appointments Under pressure from RTI campaigners, the department in charge of short-listing the candidates for appointment as Central Information Commissioners itself becomes more transparent.
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