Goa welcomes new Information Bill

PANAJI, Dec 17: The controversial Right to Information Bill of the Goa Government passed by the Assembly during its budget session in July has been amended and its objectionable provisions dropped. In a splendid display of unanimity, MLAs of all sections of the Goa Assembly voted for the passage of the amended Bill on the last day of its six-day winter session here today.

The Bill was passed in the last session of the Assembly and given the go-ahead by the State Governor P C Alexander recently. However, the State Government had decided to put its implementation on hold following media protests over penal provisions contained in it under which misuse of information was sought to be made a punishable offence. The media had feared it would stifle freedom of speech.

The newly passed bill makes Goa the second state in the country next to Tamil Nadu to come up with such a law. The amended law will enable Goans gain free access to whatever official information they require about the administration. Both Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane and Information Minister Domnick Fernandes claimed credit for their government being ahead of many other states in bringing such a law and said it was a manifestation of the government’s commitment to openness.

The Opposition welcomed the move with both Opposition leader Dr Kashinath Jhalmi and BJP group Manohar Parrikar describing it as a landmark legislation.