In Focus by The Hindu How does Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act weaken the RTI?
Apr 3, 2025
Anjali Bhardwaj, a leading advocate for citizens' right to information, discusses how Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act threatens the Right to Information Act in India. She outlines the tension between privacy and transparency, explaining how the new regulations could erode public accountability. Bhardwaj highlights potential consequences for journalists facing penalties for accessing essential information and warns how marginalized communities might suffer from reduced access to governance data. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for public discourse surrounding these changes.
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Section 44.3 Weakens RTI
- Section 44.3 of the DPDP Act weakens the RTI by exempting all personal information.
- This removes the RTI Act's nuance in balancing privacy and public interest.
Loan Write-Offs
- Citizens used the RTI to uncover loan write-offs by large capitalists.
- This was possible because the RTI Act considered the larger public interest.
Parliamentary Access
- Section 44.3 removes the provision that information accessible to Parliament should also be accessible to citizens.
- This provision was key for holding the government accountable.