Wednesday, May 11 2005 15:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A path-breaking bill seeking to provide right to information was passed by the Lok Sabha today (May 11, 2005) amidst an Opposition boycott with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asserting the measure would see the dawn of a new era in governance and eliminate the scourge of corruption.

The bill was passed by a voice vote after Government got a huge 150 amendments to the draft approved by the House following a reply by Minister of State for Personnel Suresh Pachauri.

Intervening in the discussion on Right to Information Bill, 2005, Singh said everyone, including civil servants, should see the measure in a "positive spirit" and "not as a draconian law for paralysing Government".

"I appeal to all civil servants to see this bill in the right spirit and hope they will only be spurred towards better performance.

"After all, we, the elected representatives, bow to wishes of people and have come to no harm. So will it be with honest, hard working civil servants," the Prime Minister said.

Referring to amendments incorporated in the draft bill, Singh said that the Government has removed the penalty of imprisonment against erring officials.

He, however, said that they would still be subject to departmental proceedings.

In his reply, Pachauri said that there was a sea of difference between the Freedom of Information Act passed in 2002 during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government's tenure and the current bill.

The Minister regretted the 2002 Act was not brought into force while some provisions of the current bill would become operational soon after the measure is approved by Rajya Sabha and gets Presidential assent.

"This shows our policy and our intention, to provide a transparent, accountable and responsive administration," Pachauri said.