Tuesday, May 10 2005 18:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Cutting across party lines, members in the Lok Sabha today (May 10, 2005) welcomed a Bill seeking to provide right to information to people to secure access to information under control of public authorities, but criticised the BJP-led NDA for not participating in the discussion on the major Legislation.

Expressing support to the Bill, members of several parties including Congress, RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), CPI (Communist Party of India), CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) and Samajwadi Party (SP) expressed disappointment over the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led NDA (National Democratic Party) not taking part in the debate on the important Bill.

Initiating a discussion on the Right to Information Bill, 2004, Varkala Radhakrishnan (CPM) said it was a very important Bill and felt the amendments should have been circulated in advance rather than at the 11th-hour so that the members could study them thoroughly.

Ramjilal Suman (SP) said the right to information should be given at the grass-root level and suggested the Bill should have the provision to ensure that the masses had access to information.

He said the discussion could have been more meaningful had the amendments been circulated earlier.

Milind Deora (Cong) described the Bill as a watershed Legislation allowing transparency and autonomy and access to accountability.

Earlier, moving the Bill, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri said the measure would promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.

The Bill provides for setting out the practical regime of right to information for people to secure access to information under the control of public authorities.

The statement of objects and reasons says the Bill has been brought to make the Freedom of Information Act, 2002 more progressive, participatory and meaningful to ensure greater and more effective access to information.

The Bill also seeks to set up a Central Information Commission.

The important changes proposed in the Bill include establishment of an appellate machinery with investigative powers to review decisions of the Public Information Officers, penal provisions for failure to provide information as per law and provisions to ensure maximum disclosure and minimum exemptions.