Day 16 – Q 1. Do you think political parties should be brought under the purview of the Right to Information? Critically examine.
1. Do you think political parties should be brought under the purview of the Right to Information? Critically examine.
क्या आपको लगता है कि राजनीतिक दलों को सूचना के अधिकार के दायरे में लाया जाना चाहिए? समालोचनात्मक जांच करें।
Introduction:
Right to Information (RTI) Act has played role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the administration, empowering people with information and increase their participation in the governance of the country.
Body:
Central Information Commission (CIC) has passed order for bringing political parties under the purview of RTI act declaring them as public authorities. CIC has based its order on following reasons
- Political Parties are substantially financed by the Central Government.
- Public Character: The criticality of the role being played by these Political Parties in our democratic set up and the nature of duties performed by them.
- Elections are contested on party basis and Political Parties affect the lives of citizens, directly or indirectly and are continuously engaged in performing public duty.
However, political parties are reluctant come under RTI and have cited following reasons
- Political parties are not public authorities as they are not set up under the Constitution or any law enacted by Parliament – they can’t be treated as an institution or establishment.
- If political parties come under the RTI it will affect their smooth internal functioning.
- Political rivals will start using RTI tool with malicious intent.
- There are already provisions in the Income Tax Act, 1961, and Representation of the People Act, 1951, which demand necessary transparency regarding financial aspects of political parties. These mechanisms ensure transparency in financial dealings of parties.
- Information about a political body is already in the public domain on the website of the Election Commission.
Bringing political parties under RTI would help in following ways
- Internal democracy in political parties.
- Bring financial transparency given 75% of funds received by political parties today are from anonymous sources. This would help check corporate-politician nexus, role of black money and foreign influence.
- Check corruption and nepotism within the political parties.
- This will be in line with the recommendations of ECI and Law commission for bringing Transparency in the political parties.
- Informed citizen and thus better decision making by voter.
Conclusion:
Political parties play significant role in the functioning of the democracy. It is important to ensure transparency and accountability in their working. Bringing them under RTI is one way to achieve this.
Best answer: Christina
