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In a turn of events drawing parallel to the higher judiciary’s denial to provide information about the declaration of assets, the PMO is reportedly keen to keep the assets of “Union Ministers, their spouses and dependent children” under wraps.
Worse still, the PMO is alleged to have done a virtual U-turn while acting on a Right to Information (RTI) query by initially forwarding the information on the ministers’ “updated assets till May 14, 2008”, but later backtracking on its response claiming RTI exemption for “documents held in fiduciary relationship” — a star argument earlier made by the Supreme Court for refusing to comply with RTI.
The turn of events came on an RTI petition filed by Subhash Agarwal, a textile businessman from Delhi, on April 28 last year to the Cabinet Secretariat, seeking details of “assets, wealth, income with Union ministers, spouses and their dependent children for the last two years or as is available”. The Cabinet Secretariat forwarded the request to the PMO on May 5 stating that the information sought was “more closely connected with the functions” of the latter public authority.
“The PMO had reacted by sending an office memo to the Secretariat on May 19, enclosing an updated list of assets enjoyed by Union ministers till May 14, 2008,” Agarwal said.
Receiving no communication for the next five months, Agarwal decided to follow up his request by shooting off a letter to the Secretariat on October 4. “The letter was plainly ignored,” he claimed.
On December 17, the PMO told Agrawal that the information sought could not be provided as it was exempt under the RTI Act provisions. The office sought exemption claiming immunity granted to “documents held in fiduciary relationship” and “Cabinet documents”, respectively.
“I sent an e-mail to CIC Wajahat Habibullah on January 30, 2009, requesting him to take up the matter, especially the reason behind the U-turn made by the PMO, on an urgent basis,” the RTI applicant said.
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PMO is concerned that if all assets of ministers and kins are reported, India may run out of paper and ink.
Many of the ministers like Lalu, Paswan, Praful Patel, Raja, Ramadoss etc in the UPA have made huge sums of money. It is obvious why they are opposed to reveal their wealth
I am disappointed with PMO's response to the RTI. There should be full transparency if we are to fight corruption. Why should the ministers have any problem in providing information of their assets when it is already a norm to declare assets while filing nomination papers for election. The prime minster himself an honest and clean person, should ask his council of ministers to come clean. In fact, declaration of assets should be the norm for any government or public office whether executive or political.
Shame Shame Shame Dr. Manmohan
Neta and Judge both are the highest corrupt people in India. it is like you scratch my back and i scratch yours. it is very rare that a court will find neta or a rich man guilty of crime whatever they do. and no neta ever try to stem the rott in the judicial system. If some one talk of corruption in judicial system, they are put in jails for the defamation of court. Forget about taking money in big cases these judges even take money for the transport challan presented in their court. it was said that justice is blind so it treat every one equally. it may be blind but it hear the sound of money, and if you have money you can get away with anything.
Even the opposition has not opposed it. Great, they know that they would be in the ruling side next term.
What has all these top guys to hide ??!!
how can the feeble PM with a feeble heart allow the RTI to reveal the millionons or billions stashed away in banks around the world by Lalus?? They will never allow that to happen an will continue to rule the billion population by forgery and deceit
So much for transparency and governance. The congress and its corrupt allies,scam tainted ministers have unfulfilled ambitions. They have not yet satisfied their cravings of amassing wealth. The laws that are enacted have a foot note “NOT APPLICABLE TO THE MINISTER IN PARTICULAR AND THE POLITICIANS IN GENERAL”Equality before law is enshrined in the constitution of India yet it is subverted on a daily basis by these individual who sit in the parliament and pass legislations.Where is the much touted Aam adami whose was supposed to be the centerpiece of this congress/upa government.Indian democracy has been reduced to farce by the politician, for the politician of the politician. We are at their mercy and the right to vote in a election is a gift from these people and not our right as stated in the constitution.
The UPA government is made up of corrupt and tainted ministers. Hence this is an attempt by the pMO to hide this dirty reality from the people of this country. Congress has done this since ages and will continue to do it.
Hello everyone i just want to express same view as Niranjan expressed below. So its now clear for everyone that how much we are corrupt so why common man should face this act RTI its useless if seturion is like this just withdraw this ACT and let everyone ejnoy corruption equally why only netas and court judges have this.
This must be challenged and PMO must come forth to let there be openness if they want to sort the rot of the country which is ensured by politicans at large !Transparency is the key for better governance which India sadly lacks--it should take a cue from the American system if we are truly democratic! the truth must come out --no exceptions Mr Prime Minister!
All are equal in the eyes of Law why Judges should have the special privilage?. Let them declare their assets to help tyhe rule of law by becoming the role anchors and sheer examples.
Subash ,you are asking the most currupted politicians in the world to declair their assets.Do you think it is to do free "sava" they are spending crores of rupees to get elected.It was delaired long back by congress that curruption is a world phenomenon .40 to 50 % of the candidates in the last state elections were crorepatis.They have spend a part of it to win election and now they have to earn to fight the next elections to do "sava " to poor Indians.
If people are honest in their dealings and nothing to hide then what difference does it make to disclose wealth to RTI petitioner. Why should any body take a cover of being a minister or a judge which entitles him not to disclose his income. The corruption in India will only be eradicated once their is a public audit and this can be through RTI only, so dear ministers and judges please do not shy away to disclose your wealth. PMO, why you want to accord shelter to corrupt people, you want to creat a corruption and non corruption zones in this country. On one hand you have anti corruption dept to arrest corruption and other side you want to shelter corruption. Why double standards ? corruption.
Its very unfortunate !!One the one hand Obama is telling his staff not to accept any gift or any other favor and they take oath for that while in India things are going in right direction and PM want to change the course.RTI is not applicable to Cabinet /PMO/judiciary and other important department then why it has been created, (to squeeze common people and threaten them with this law)Wake up all, why we have to move like Pakistan , I have observed since 26/11 our foreign minister also back track like Pakistani officials ( please don’t emulate wrong example).
it is a national shame,that thieves are there everywhere,in judiciary and politics. god save we poor peple.
The Democracy in it's present form is neither adequate nor suitable suitable for India.Till our literacy mark passes 95%,winners of election at Country and state level should be decided only by educated lot.
to be a politician, education could be a criteria but that do not ruled out that, an illiterate can not drive en excellent form of govt. I think it needs much more than bookies education.
And this is straight from the office of most qualified, educated, sober and high moraled Prime Minister. These politicians are irritating now...If this continues, i am sure not gonna vote for Congress.Other Govt employee must file a PIL that they should also be immune to the RTI act.Or better, let us urge to kill RTI itself...
WHY ARE WE SURPRISED? WHEN THE NETAS THEMSELVES MAKE THE LAWS AFFECTING THEM, THEY WILL MAKE THEM TO SUIT THEIR OWN NEEDS. THE JUDGES ARE NOT IMPARTIAL. IN FACT THE CORRUPTION HAS TAKEN HOLD OF THIS COUNTRY THAT SOME DAY WE WILL HAVE A MENU BRIBES TO PAY FOR WHAT WE WANT TO GET DONE, EVEN AT PMO OFFICE. IN FACT WE SHOULD MAKE THE LAWS AGAINST 'DISPROPORTIONATE ASSETS' AGAINST ANY NETA AND RTI SHOULD BE DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL SO THAT OUR POOR RICH AND POWERFUL NETAs ARE NOT HARRASSED BY THE SIMPLE THINGS LIKE THAT! MERA BHARAT MAHAN, JAHAN MOST CORRUPT NETA KARTE HAIN RAJ!