RTI brings forth two landmark decisions

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RTI brings forth two landmark decisions
by SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL, MeriNews

The Union cabinet's twin decisions on ‘Wealth–declaration, judges code of conduct, and ban on exit polls brought through RTI petitions has given true powers in the hands of the common man. They must be implemented in true spirit.

THE VITAL ‘Wealth-declaration, conduct-code by judges’ issue raised through Right To Information (RTI) petitions has made the Union cabinet give its nod to include them in the forthcoming ‘Judges Enquiry Bill 2008’ which aims at empowering the common man. It now gives every Indian citizen the power to file complaints against judges of higher courts before a high-powered National Judicial Council.

Supporters of this landmark judgment must ensure that with the session of Lok Sabha nearing its end, the Bill does not lapse like many good Bills earlier.

It would also be wise if the National Judicial Council could include retired judges of Supreme Court acting as member-nominees of president, prime minister, Opposition Leader, chief justice of India and Bar association with central vigilance commissioner as ex-officio member. The serving judges are already overburdened with work.

The cabinet approval of the proposal to ban exit and opinion polls until the completion of the election process is another great decision which must be implemented in the true spirit. The exit polls have been found in the past to be far from the actual results.

Those conducting them accept a deviation upto 2-per cent; this can make a lot of difference in the assembly polls where the margin is very slim. This difference is what often swings the wave, exit polls must, therefore not be allowed to be made public.

RTI brings forth two landmark decisions