Saturday, August 19 2006 11:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government yesterday (Aug 18, 2006) indicated that a proposed amendment to the Right to Information Act to exclude file notings was unlikely to come up in the current session and a final decision may be taken on Monday (Aug 14, 2006).

"As of now it seems unlikely that the RTI Act will come up in this Session. But I will be able to say anything decisively only on Monday after Rajya Sabha BAC meeting", Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters when asked if the Act would be introduced in the current session.

He said the Government would be consulting Left parties, allies and others before bringing this Act for amendment.

Asked if the Government was under high or low pressure not to bring this Bill for amendment in the current session, Dasmunshi said, "We are under no presure, whether high or low.After the nuclear debate is over, all pressure is over".

To a query whether the government has cleared the amendments to the RTI, Dasmunsi said, "Cabinet clearance means government clearance".