SC Grills Centre on Data Protection Law's RTI Impact! 🧐 Transparency at Stake?
SC Grills Centre on Data Protection Law's RTI Impact! 🧐 Transparency at Stake?
The Supreme Court has demanded answers from the Centre regarding challenges to the new Data Protection Act. Critics say it weakens RTI, compromising public interest and transparency. Follow the legal battle!
The Supreme Court of India has stepped into a crucial legal debate, asking the central government to respond to petitions that challenge recent amendments made to the Right to Information (RTI) Act. These amendments are part of the new Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, and they've sparked significant concerns about public transparency.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana heard the initial arguments on Friday. Senior advocate Vrinda Grover and advocate Prashant Bhushan presented their case, prompting the court to direct Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, to file the government's official response. The court is particularly interested in understanding what truly constitutes "personal data" under these new DPDP laws.
The core of the challenge lies in the amendments made to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. This specific section deals with exemptions from disclosing personal information. Critics argue that the changes dilute transparency significantly by removing a vital safeguard: the public interest clause for disclosing personal information. Essentially, the petitioners claim that where public interest previously allowed for the disclosure of certain personal data, the new act might restrict it, thus potentially limiting accountability and access to information. This development marks a significant moment in the ongoing balance between individual privacy and public transparency in India.
