RTI will be irrelevant in 5 years: Information Commissioner

Outgoing Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi has warned that the Right to Information Act is under threat and might become irrelevant in the next five years.

In an exclusively interview to CNN IBN, Gandhi said that the threats come from various sections. “I believe that so far the RTI Act has achieved far more than expected but there are serious threats most of us are not conscious of. If all of us are completely asleep over it, in the next five years RTI may become irrelevant,” Shailesh Gandhi said.

“The lowest threat comes from the government with everyone in power realising that it’s changing the power equation as the citizens of India are asking questions. This is threatening the power structure,” Gandhi said.

He also warned of threats from the judicial system, which is much higher than the threat from the government. Gandhi pointed towards the progressive court orders which are challenged by the rich and powerful people in the country.

“There is threat from the judicial system as well.A lot of progressive orders are challenged and landing up in courts. This can also be done by powerful people as it takes 4 to 5 years for a case,” he said.

“The biggest threat from Information Commissions itself. All State commissions and central commission are not able to deal with rush of RTI appeals and complains,” he added.