President Droupadi Murmu’s intervention sought for citizens and activists to participate in RTI Act celebrations

The Mahiti Hakku Adhyayana Kendra, Bengaluru, has written to President Droupadi Murmu opposing the Karnataka Information Commission’s (KIC) determination to forestall citizens and RTI activists from participating successful the 20th day celebrations of the RTI Act conducted by it connected October 14, astatine Yavanika successful Bengaluru.

In a missive to the president connected October 12, B.H. Veeresha, a trustee of the Mahiti Hakku Adhyayana Kendra, objected to the prevention of citizens from participating successful the 20th day of the RTI Act by the KIC. He said, “The 20th day is not simply an authoritative relation but a symbolic juncture to bespeak connected the advancement made and the challenges up successful realising the objectives of the Act.”

“Denying citizens – who are the superior stakeholders – the accidental to instrumentality portion successful this lawsuit runs contrary to the ethos and tone of the RTI law,” helium said.

‘Arbitrary move, undermines nationalist trust’

He termed “arbitrary” the prevention of citizens and RTI activists from attending the relation and said it “raises questions astir the committedness to transparency and inclusivity”. “Such exclusion undermines nationalist spot and diminishes the participatory quality of governance envisioned by some the Constitution of India and the RTI framework,” said Mr. Veeresha, who is also an RTI activist.

Mr. Veeresha urged the President “to nonstop the acrophobic authorities to clarify the reasons for this restriction,” and said, “As the law caput of our country, you (President) volition enactment to support citizens’ rights and uphold the antiauthoritarian values our state cherishes.”