GOOD GOVERNANCE - 2nd ARC Recommendations

RIGHT TO INFORMATION: MASTER KEY TO GOOD GOVERNANCE

Significance:

Right to information is a tool to make the government more accountable and the right is a basic necessity of good governance.

Recommendations for improving the RTI Act:

• Single Window Portal for disclosure of all public authorities.
• Training of the Public Information Officers
• Multimedia campaigns in the local languages
• Single Window Agency at District Level so as to ease for an applicant to identify the Public Authority and to locate it.

On Whistleblowers:

• The Law Commission, in its 179th report (2001) recommended enactment of Public Interest Disclosure (Protection) Law
• 2nd ARC fully endorses the view and recommends a suitable legislation to protect whistleblowers 

Current Status:

• 2nd ARC recognizes that there is neglect in the record keeping.

On Official Secrets Act (OSA):

• 2nd ARC recommended that it should be repealed and accommodated under the National Security Act (NSA). 
• The Shourie Committee (Right to Information and Transparency, 1997) had recommended the Official Security Act to be applicable only on the violations of national security.

On Transparency:

• The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC), recommended that We should have an oath of transparency instead of the oath of secrecy.