POLITICAL
PARTIES UNDER RTI – THE GREAT STEP FOR INDIAN DEMOCRACY
Political parties have been claiming exemption under RTI
Act. But the decision of CIC shall change everything now. Political Parties
under RTI Act now.
Political Parties affect the lives of citizens, directly
or indirectly, in every conceivable way and are continuously engaged in
performing public duty. It is, therefore, important that they became
accountable to the public. Their uniqueness lays in the fact that inspite of
being non-governmental, they come to wield or directly or indirectly influence
exercise of governmental power. It would be odd to argue that transparency is
good for all State organs but not so good for Political Parties, which, in reality,
control all the vital organs of the State.
How Political Parties under RTI
The CIC ruled that “We may also add that the preamble to
the Constitution of India aims at securing to all its citizens: JUSTICE,
social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith
and worship; and, EQUALITY of status and of opportunity. Coincidentally, the
preamble of RTI Act also aims to promote these principles in the form of
transparency and accountability in the working of the every public authority.
It also aims to create an ‘informed citizenry’ and to contain corruption and to
hold government and their instrumentalities accountable to the governed.
Needless to say, Political Parties are important political institutions and can
play a critical role in heralding transparency in public life.”
