New Delhi:
A Parliamentary standing committee has agreed with the government that political parties do not come under the Right to Information or RTI Act.
The landmark transparency law, passed by the UPA I government in 2005, is often flaunted by Congress Number 2 Rahul Gandhi as a precursor to the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill, currently being pushed by the government in Parliament.
All political parties barring Odisha-based Biju Janata Dal and the Communist Party of India supported the panel's move. Nominated Rajya Sabha member and businesswoman Anu Agha gave a note of dissent.
Deposing before the committee, India's Attorney General GE Vahanvati had said that the amendments to the Act go against the provisions of the constitution and so, may not stand the test of the law.
It all began with the Central Information Commission issuing an order in June this year that six national parties - Congress, BJP, NCP, CPI-M, CPI and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party - have been substantially funded indirectly by the central government and were required to appoint public information officers as they have the character of a public authority under the RTI Act.
Currently, political parties have to declare details of donations of more than Rs. 20,000 to the Election Commission. They argue that since they are already answerable to one body, there is no need for another regulator.
Since becoming a law in 2005, the RTI Act, apart from helping citizens secure government information, has also helped expose major scams.