Kharge : Questions Government’s Push to Review Transparency Law in Economic Survey
Kharge : Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday sharply criticised the Union government’s Economic Survey for proposing a review of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, warning that the move could further weaken one of India’s key transparency laws. Drawing parallels with what he described as the dilution of earlier social welfare programmes, Kharge said the suggested changes raise serious concerns about accountability and citizens’ access to information.
Concerns Raised Over Transparency Framework
Speaking a day after the Economic Survey was tabled in Parliament, Kharge questioned whether the RTI Act was now facing the same fate as flagship initiatives introduced during the United Progressive Alliance years. He argued that transparency laws exist to empower citizens and ensure scrutiny of public institutions, not to be curtailed for administrative convenience.
Kharge accused the government of steadily eroding the RTI framework since 2014. According to him, procedural delays, legislative amendments, and administrative decisions have together weakened the law’s effectiveness, making it harder for citizens to seek information from public authorities.
Economic Survey’s Rationale Explained
The Economic Survey, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, stated that the RTI Act of 2005 was not designed to satisfy casual curiosity or enable external micro-management of government functioning. The document suggested that certain categories of information, including confidential reports and draft policy comments, should be exempt from disclosure as they may constrain effective governance.
It also proposed re-examining the nearly two-decade-old law to assess whether safeguards were needed for sensitive administrative records. Among the ideas flagged was the possibility of allowing ministers discretionary authority to withhold specific information in defined circumstances.
Allegations of Systematic Weakening
In a post on social media platform X, Kharge alleged that the government has deliberately undermined the independence of information commissions. He pointed to a backlog of more than 26,000 pending RTI cases as of 2025 and recalled amendments made in 2019 that altered the tenure and remuneration of information commissioners.
According to Kharge, these changes reduced the autonomy of information watchdogs, making them more vulnerable to executive influence. He said such steps have slowed the grievance redress process and discouraged citizens from using the RTI mechanism.
Vacancies and Administrative Gaps
Kharge also highlighted prolonged vacancies in oversight institutions. He noted that the Central Information Commission, the apex body responsible for enforcing RTI provisions at the central level, functioned without a chief information commissioner until last month.
This, he claimed, marked the seventh instance in the past 11 years when the post was left vacant for an extended period. Kharge argued that such gaps weaken institutional capacity and delay appeals, further frustrating applicants seeking information.
Safety of RTI Activists Under Scrutiny
Raising concerns about the safety of citizens using the RTI law, Kharge said that more than 100 RTI activists have been killed since 2014. He described this as evidence of a climate of fear that discourages individuals from pursuing transparency and accountability.
He also criticised the lack of implementation of the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, passed in 2014, stating that its absence leaves activists and informants vulnerable. According to Kharge, stronger legal safeguards are essential to protect those who expose wrongdoing.
Debate Over Privacy and Public Interest
Another point of contention was the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Kharge alleged that its provisions dilute the public interest clause of the RTI Act by prioritising privacy in ways that could shield corruption and limit scrutiny.
He warned that without careful balancing, privacy protections could be misused to deny legitimate information requests, undermining the original intent of transparency legislation.
Political Reactions and Next Steps
The Congress leader said the Survey’s mention of a possible ministerial veto and proposals to shield service records, transfers, and staff assessments from public view warranted wider debate. He called on civil society, opposition parties, and transparency advocates to closely examine the implications of any proposed amendments.
The government has not yet announced specific legislative changes, but the discussion has reopened a broader debate on how to balance transparency, privacy, and administrative efficiency in India’s governance framework.