Dear all, This is just to clarify, Karnataka had added a new Rule 14 to the existnig RTI Rules. They have not changed the Act as they do not have the legislative competence to do so. It is an Act that parliament passed, only Parliament can amend it. We have strongly opposed Rule 14 from day one. Some activists in Karnataka like Mr. Y G Muralidhar and his network are amongst the few people who protested vociferously against this new Rule. I am not aware if other activists also took up this matter as strongly as Muralidhar and his group. The funny thing is this Rule has not been table in the legislatrue I am told. We wanted to oppose it there, however there has been an unusual delay in its tabling. Sadly the Karnataka Rule has been replicated in Chhattisgarh recently according to media reports. Some activists have opposed it there also. but others have not taken it seriously. My own applications rarely cross the 150-200 words as it is important to be brief and precise in drafting RTI applications. However that is a personal standard I have chosen. I do not think it is fair for the government to impose similar limits through subordinate legislation. Thanks Venkat
_____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of LESLIE ALMEIDA Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 7:46 AM To: undisclosed recipients: Subject: [rti_india] Fw: Karnataka has changed the RTI Act, 2005! Dear RTI Activists Recently, I was shocked and left speechless to hear that karnataka has changed the RTI Act, 2005 by enacting their own RTI Act, 2006 in which one can ask only single question or query besides teh words cannot exceed more then 150 words! What was more shocking and eeric that it was drafted by the CIC of Karnataka Mr.Misra(former Chief Secretray) and cleared by the Karnataka Govt to help hide the illegalities of the Government besdies sealed the unknown skeletons which would have tumbled out of the closet! I hope the trend does not catch up with the Maharashtra or other state Government! it may come out with one word per application! however we in Maharashtra specially Mumbai are strong body of activists who will oppose such move tooth and nail should some thing like this happens here. Leslie Almeida [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
