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Title: An appeal to the Prime Minster to NOT Amend the RTI Act 2005 To:
The Honorable Prime Minister of India,
Dr Manmohan Singh
New Delhi, India.
Subject: An appeal to save Indian democracy and Eliminate corruption Dear Sir, As an Indian citizen, I am very distressed at the Cabinet decision to curtail our New-found Freedom in the Right To Information Act 22 of 2005. The citizens of India had just enthusiastically started using this Act, and the numerous success stories coming from all corners of the country made me proud and hopeful that the malaise of corruption will finally be eliminated from my country. I believe that the immense empowerment of the Citizens which is possible through the implementation of this progressive Act (in its current form) will convert India into a true participatory democracy. However, the recent Cabinet decision to disallow file-notings from disclosure under the RTI Act is a Citizen-unfriendly move and strikes at the roots of our Freedom. I am listing the major objections that I have to this proposed change in the Act: Putting file notings in the realm of exemptions will make the Act weaker. Without access to information about the people behind the decision-making process (which is possible ONLY through file-notings), instances, where higher officers and Ministers have over-ruled objections to illegal proposals by honest officers, will never come to light. The guilty and corrupt officials will therefore be protected forever under the garb of secrecy. What we have perceived as Right to Information is being sought to be converted to Right to Corruption. The significance of the proposed amendment to the Act coming soon after an All-India Anti-bribery Campaign using RTI is not lost on us. The move smacks of arrogance of power and arbitrariness. The Government has made no attempt to disclose to the Public, what great harm has accrued to governance in the last few months, which could not be covered under the present exemptions under Section 8. It makes a mockery of over nine months (from August 2004 to May 2005) of a consultative-deliberative process between Bureaucrats, Ministers, a Parliamentary Committee and Citizens, by an arbitrary decision of the cabinet. This is violative of the basic principles of transparency and democracy.
We the Citizens demand an answer and will not be willing to assume that you are indifferent to a matter which concerns us deeply. We believe the survival of our democracy depends critically on this Right, and do not want any dilution of our valued Right. We await your attention to a cause which is very important and dear to us. Yours truly,
{Your name}
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