Survey seeks RTI Act relook 'to align with best practices'

New Delhi: Economic Survey calls for "re-examination" of the Right to Information Act 2005, holding that this is not to dilute its spirit "but to align it with global best practices, incorporate evolving lessons and keep it firmly anchored to its original intent".

In a chapter on "Building strategic resilience and strategic indispensability: The role of the state, the private sector and the citizens" which has a box with a sub-heading 'Transparency without Blindness', it is suggested "a few possible adjustments may be worth exploring. One could be to exempt brainstorming notes, working papers and draft comments until they form part of the final record of decision-making".




"Another option could be to protect service records, transfers and confidential staff reports from casual requests that add little value to public interest. A third might be to explore a narrowly defined ministerial veto, subject to parliamentary oversight, to guard against disclosures that could unduly constrain governance," the report says, emphasising "these are not prescriptions but suggestions worth debating ...."