Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (Controversial judgment by Supreme Court) that was published in Newsband

Controversial judgment by Supreme Court

A politician is all too powerful and a public figure. An instrument is needed at least to keep an eye on his or her activities. RTI Act is the best instrument. RTI only seeks information and it does not pass any judgment nor does it convict any individual. It is the right of the Indian public at large to know about all the activities of individuals entrusted with the task of ensuring safety of all financial and other assets of the nation. There should be no dilution of any information whatsoever in any way.

In the recent past, revelation through RTI has just started to assist the common citizens and in addition it has also unearthed some of the irregularities in the system.

RTI should be given autonomous power. Don't allow any authority to disturb its functions. This will help especially politicians and some other groups to increase corruption activities.

Many patriotic citizens have felt a kind of relief to see the RTI taking hold to provide some transparency and accountability. It is still not fully understood by most people nor is it being used to any great remedial effect. It is sad that the PMO and now the judicial wisdom seem bent on diluting or dismantling or discrediting the law's force. It is anti democratic and anti-people and must therefore be resisted.

This Act is still in infancy and has not received the adequate publicity either by NGOs or by government. The people at the helm like PM or others do no want it to touch VVIPS and cause them embarrassment. People should come forward to use the Act and expose the hidden misdeeds of pretenders with facts and figures

RTI did help expose corruptions that were previously hidden from public. RTI should be protected by all means and made more efficient.

The 'judge as commissioner' has been given wide publicity to show that Supreme court’s decision aims at something big and to hide the real agenda. There are chances that corruption and favoritism will increase with implementation of this judgment. Even advocates with 20 years experience can find place. A bureaucrat may not be politically aligned but higher number of advocates has political leanings. The result will be obvious.