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11/08/2010
Anti-poor RTI rules to be made election issue Patna,(BiharTimes): Over 100 civil society organizations, working for the promotion of people’s Right To Information, have decided to make what they call the anti-poor Bihar RTI Rules, 2009, a public issue during the forthcoming assembly elections. These organizations are working in 20 districts of Bihar. The decision was taken at a state level meet held here at Scada Business Centre on Sunday. To oppose the state government’s move, an action plan was also drawn up. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, New Delhi, Gramin Evam Nagar Vikas Parishad, Patna and Janadesh, Madhubani had organized the conference. The state government had amended the Bihar RTI Rules 2006 in November 2009, which made the BPL applicants pay fee of Rs 2 per page for seeking information beyond 10 pages. However, the RTI Act, passed by the Parliament in 2005, says that all BPL applicants be given information free of cost. Justice (Retd.) S N Jha, Chairman of Bihar State Human Rights Commission, said that state governments do not have the power to amend rules that contradict the provisions of the main RTI Act passed by the Parliament. He asked the participants to approach the Human Rights body for redress if they found the RTI rules being violated.
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