Editorial
Adoption of RTI ordinance - a welcome act
Implement it expeditiously
THE caretaker government must be complimented for approving the Right to Information Ordinance in principle. Commitment shown by this government, especially the Chief Adviser, is highly praiseworthy. We believe the ordinance will go a long way in strengthening the foundation of 'people's right to know' and thereby lay the foundation of an accountable government. The very purpose behind the ordinance, one for which individuals and groups of citizens have struggled long and hard, is to enable people to come by the information they need in their own as well as in the national interest. We have written earlier of the good that will accrue to the country through the adoption of a Right to Information Act. We have in these months of deliberations on the RTI maintained that citizens in a democratic society hold the right of access to information. That right, we believe, can now be ensured through an expeditious and efficient implementation of the RTI ordinance.
We might add here that since the RTI is fundamentally geared to fulfilling the public desire for information on issues relating to accountability and transparency, it must take precedence over other laws or acts such as the Official Secrets Act. In other words, where secrecy defined the release or otherwise of information in the Official Secrets Act so far, it will now be the other way round, with people getting full access to matters they require information on. However, we acknowledge the fact that some very specific national security-related military matters may be kept out of the purview of this law. We are happy to note that exception list has been shortened and made clear and specific. In no way should security be cited as an excuse to affect other areas over which citizens feel they are fully justified to seek and get information. An important recommendation that we make about the implementation of the Right to Information Ordinance is that any temptation to bureaucratise the process must be resisted. All too often, it has been seen, the presence of government officials on bodies entrusted with fulfilling public requirements mars the quality of the enterprise. Such a fate ought not to befall the RTI, an achievement to which we have patiently and eagerly looked forward.
The adoption of the RTI will surely usher in a new phase in our march to democracy. But that will again depend on a removal of any vagueness that might be there in the draft. The law will finally be drafted by the law ministry. We expect all final steps to be taken expeditiously. Also steps must be taken on how to implement it as smoothly and quickly as possible.
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