The Punjab Information Commission (PIC) has denied immunity to the Punjab Assembly (PA) from the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2013 and directed it to publish details about MPAs’ performance and funds allocation on its website.
The PIO’s application claiming immunity was dismissed by the commission, which expressed concern over constitutional bodies claiming immunity from RTI law. A journalist had requested information under the RTI law, prompting the PIC’s Jan 23 order for the provincial assembly to improve its website.
The PIO argued that the Punjab Assembly rules take precedence over the RTI law, which the commission rejected as subverting the Constitution. The commission also expressed concern over a bill seeking to exclude the parliament from the definition of public body, thus immune to RTI law.
The decision of the Punjab Information Commission has been widely praised by transparency and accountability advocates, who see it as a major victory in the ongoing battle for government openness and citizen empowerment.
Punjab Information Commission
Many feel that the trend of public institutions claiming immunity from RTI laws is a worrying development that threatens to undermine the very principles of democracy and good governance. By upholding the right of citizens to access information about the performance and funding of their elected representatives, the PIC has sent a strong message that accountability and transparency are essential for the health of any democracy.
However, some critics have argued that the PIC’s decision may be difficult to enforce, especially given the resistance of many public bodies to RTI laws. They point out that the Punjab Assembly has already been criticized in the past for failing to comply with transparency requirements, and that the PIC may struggle to ensure that its orders are fully implemented.
Nonetheless, supporters of the decision remain optimistic, and argue that it represents a significant step forward in the struggle for greater government transparency and citizen participation.