The Lok Sabha has passed the  Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that seeks to empower the Centre to make rules to decide the tenure, salary, allowances and other terms of service of Information Commissioners of the Central Information Commission and also of State Information Commissions.

Earlier, Opposition members sought a division of votes before the bill was taken up for consideration in the house. As many as 218 members supported the legislation and 79 opposed it.

Replying to a debate on the bill, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh, said the amendment will in no way dilute the provisions of the RTI Act.

He said it is just a misunderstanding that it will impact the effectiveness or the autonomy of the RTI Act. Dr Singh said, the amendment will only allow the government the right to frame the rules which did not exist earlier.

Dr Singh said that through these amendments the government will be able to further streamline and institutionalize the RTI Act of 2005.

He refuted the opposition allegations that the latest amendment will be an attack on the federal structure saying that the government has not touched the existing provisions of RTI Act, 2005  related to States.

He said, the government has nothing hide and it is committed to ensure transparency and accountability in the governance system. He said, the government has repealed around 1,500 laws which have no relevance today.

Initiating the debate on the bill, Shashi Tharoor of the Congress opposed the bill saying that it will weaken the present RTI Act and any attempt to attack the federal values. He demanded the withdrawal of the bill and suggested to refer it to a Parliamentary Standing Committee for scrutiny.

Jagadambika Pal of BJP spoke in favour of RTI Act amendments and said that the role of RTI is not being diluted. He said,  this is a simple bill seeking to change the tenure and salary.

Mr  Pal said the government has taken several steps to strengthen the RTI Act. He said, it is the NDA government which made rules that in the absence of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the leader of the largest party will be considered as a member in the appointment of Chief Information Commissioner. Members of other political parties including DMK, RSP and BSP also participated in the discussion.