BJP opposes RTI-vigilance plan

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government decision to take the State Vigilance out of the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 is slowly snowballing into a major controversy. RTI activists and political parties, unhappy with the unsavoury decision are planning for a showdown with the government on the issue. Both the Congress and BJP, two major opposition parties, have dubbed the move as “illegal” and said they would launch statewide campaign to ensure that the government reverts its decision.  

The notification issued by the Information and Public Relations Department on August 11 said, “In exercise of the powers conferred under section 24(4) of the Act, the Government do hereby specify that nothing contained in the said Act shall apply to the General Administration (Vigilance) Department and its organisation. The Odisha government headed by Naveen Patnaik was one of the first states in the country to implement the Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

However, its sudden move to exclude Vigilance Wing from purview of the law has raised many doubts about the actual intention and transparency of the ruling BJD and leadership. According to section 24(4) of the RTI, intelligence and security organisations will be outside of the purview of the Act. Allegations of corruption and human rights violation will not be excluded under this section.

However, information seekers will not be able to get details of the corruption cases which are under investigation by the Vigilance. The State government has justified the decision on ground that it compromises the confidentiality in corruption cases by exposing details of the personal assets of persons who are under investigation of the Vigilance. Official sources said a large number of applications were received by the Information and Public Relations Department through RTI asking details of assets of people raided by the Vigilance. Criticising the Government decision, leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra said the notification is illegal and against the spirit of the RTI Act.

“The decision has been taken to save people in the ruling party and state government as allegations are mounting against them,” he said. Senior BJP leader Sajjan Sharma said the decision has exposed the fact that there is no transparency in functioning of the state government. Former state information commissioner Jagadanand and renowned RTI activist Pradip Pradhan also criticised the decision as an “incorrect move” and “illegal.”

While the Centre has kept home, defence and finance ministries, DRDO and organisations related to defence and intelligence outside the purview of the RTI, the law does not apply to State Special Branch, Intelligence Wing, Special Operation Groups, Crime Branch and District Intelligence Bureau in Odisha.