The Hindu : Information Bill gets President's nod

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Saturday, Jan 11, 2003

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Information Bill gets President's nod

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI Jan. 10. The President has given his assent to the Freedom of Information Bill, 2002, and it has been notified in the Gazette of India as Act No. 5 of 2003.

Seeking to confer on the people the right to information to make democracy and the rule of law work effectively through a mechanism of accountability, the Act will come into force from a date to be notified by the Government.

The Act provides for freedom to every citizen to secure information under the control of public authorities of both the Union and State governments. It seeks to make government open, transparent, responsive and accountable to the people.

It envisages the appointment of Public Information Officer (PIO) in every Government Ministry and Department to attend to the demands of the people for official information against nominal service charge for certified photocopies of the documents.

There will, however, be exemption from disclosure of information in eight areas of the country's defence, securities, intelligence agencies related information, Cabinet papers, minutes of advice including legal ones relating to decision making, trade or commercial secrets, information likely to breach of privileges of Parliament and State Legislatures.

Officials will also be made accountable for non-compliance and for this purpose relevant provisions of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules and the All-India Services (Conduct) Rules will be amended.

The President has also given his nod to the Representation of the People (second amendment) Bill, 2002, and it has been notified as Act 6 of 2003 and it comes into immediate effect.

It seeks to amend Sec. 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to include the period of conviction plus period of disqualification for six years, fine plus six years of disqualification.

Hereafter no one from behind the bar or prison will contest elections to Parliament or State Legislatures.

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