New Delhi, Oct 12 (UNI) Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today issued a stark warning about the “gradual erosion” of India’s landmark Right to Information (RTI) Act, accusing the current government of systematically weakening this critical pillar of transparency and accountability.
Speaking at a press conference marking 20 years since the RTI Act’s full implementation, Ramesh recalled the transformative impact of the law on governance and citizen empowerment.. “Exactly 20 years ago today, the historic RTI Act came into full effect, ushering in a new era of citizen empowerment and transparency,” he said.
Placing the RTI in the broader reform wave of 2005–2013, Ramesh highlighted that the period saw the enactment of several rights-based legislations on rural employment, forest rights, education, food security, and land acquisition — all aimed at empowering marginalized citizens and deepening democracy.
However, Ramesh lamented, “Since May 2014, we have witnessed a deliberate and continuous effort to dilute these rights.” He singled out the July 2019 amendments to the RTI Act, which were “forcibly pushed through Parliament.” “I opposed these changes in the Rajya Sabha and challenged them in the Supreme Court, but the petition has languished for six years,” he added.
Further setbacks, he noted, came with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act passed in August 2023. “I warned the concerned minister in March 2025 that this law would render the RTI Act even more irrelevant,” Ramesh said.
The current state of the Central Information Commission (CIC) also drew sharp criticism. “The CIC is functioning with only two commissioners, with nine posts—including that of the Chief Information Commissioner—lying vacant for over 15 months,” said Ramesh. “For the Modi government, RTI now stands for ‘Readiness To Intimidate’—a readiness to intimidate those demanding transparency.”
The RTI Act has been a cornerstone of democratic accountability, empowering citizens to hold public officials to account. Yet, with legislative changes and key vacancies undermining its effectiveness, Ramesh’s comments reflect growing concern among opposition leaders and civil society about the health of India’s transparency mechanisms.
As India marks two decades since the RTI’s enactment, Ramesh’s call to action highlights the urgent need to defend and rejuvenate this vital democratic instrument before it is irreparably weakened.
