RTI Act under threat: outgoing Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi

New Delhi: 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.

Speaking to CNN-IBN, Gandhi said that the threats come from various sections. "The RTI Act is growing very well across the country, but there are serious threats to it," he said.

He said that the government officials tend to get uncomfortable as the RTI Act has the power of exposing scams. "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. That's making them uncomfortable. Major scams have come out in the last two years and 20 to 30 per cent can be attributed to RTI," Gandhi said.

Outgoing Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi has warned of threats from the government as well as the judicial system.

He also warned of threats from the judicial system. "There is threat from the judicial system as well. "A lot of progressive orders are landing in courts. The average citizen cannot go to them as it's a long battle. It can be done by rich people," Gandhi said.

"The biggest threat from Information Commissions. The state commissions have huge pendencies," he added.

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