Govt notifies RTI Act tweaks termed ‘dilution’ by activists
The salaries of chiefs of commissions and ICs have been fixed at Rs 2.50 lakh and Rs 2.25 lakh respectively. This is a critical shift from the pre-amendment status. Prior to amendments the law stated that the salaries and allowances payable to and other conditions of service of the chief and the information commissioners of the CIC would be same as that of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners respectively.
Those of the state chief information commissioners and state information commissioners were the same as that of the election commissioner and the chief secretary to the state government, respectively. The CEC and other election commissioners are paid a salary equal to that of a judge of the SC, which is decided by Parliament.
The rules also lay down that the central government will have the power to relax the provisions of any of these rules in respect of any class or category of persons.
The amendments drew criticism from opposition parties and RTI activists prior to the bill being passed in Parliament and even after that. Those opposing the amendments have been raising concerns that they dilute the autonomy and stature of the commissions.
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