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Petitions challenge the RTI Act amendment on personal information
ಸುದ್ದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಏಕೆ?
Privacy versus transparency: the Section 8(1)(j) RTI clause now before the Supreme Court, explained for GS-II
Petitions contest the amendment to the RTI Act's personal-information exemption made via the DPDP Act, 2023.
Why it matters: asked in UPSC 2018; factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 ನಿಮಿಷ
Petitions before the Supreme Court challenge the change made to the Right to Information Act, 2005 through the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
The change concerns Section 8(1)(j), the clause that exempts personal information with no link to public activity or interest.
The challenge sets the right to privacy against the citizen's right to transparency.
ಮೂಲಗಳು: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅಂಶಗಳು
Remember these
- Right to Information Act, 2005 gives citizens a legal right to seek information from public authorities.
- Section 8(1)(j) exempts personal information having no relationship to any public activity or interest.
- The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 amended the RTI Act's personal-information exemption.
- Petitions in the Supreme Court challenge this amendment, setting privacy against transparency.
- Privacy was held a fundamental right under Article 21 in Puttaswamy (2017).
ಪ್ರಿಲಿಮ್ಸ್ · ಮೇನ್ಸ್
How the exam will ask it
ಪ್ರಿಲಿಮ್ಸ್
- Statement: Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005 exempts personal information that has no relationship to any public activity or interest.
- Statement: The DPDP Act, 2023 changed the personal-information exemption in the RTI Act, and this change is under challenge before the Supreme Court.
- Statement: Section 8(1)(j) is one of the exemptions in Section 8 of the RTI Act; other clauses cover sovereignty, Cabinet papers and information received in confidence from a foreign government.
ಮೇನ್ಸ್
GS-II (Transparency and accountability; RTI; privacy). The issue is the clash between the citizen's right to know and the right to privacy after the DPDP Act, 2023 changed Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. The provision must be read with the Puttaswamy privacy ruling and the public-interest balance. A way forward is a narrowly drawn exemption with a clear public-interest test, so that accountability of public officials is not weakened.
PYQ connection
A question UPSC has already asked on this
Consider the following statements:
- 'Right to Privacy' is protected under Article 21 of the Constitution
- In digital economy, privacy of an individual is subject to a reasonable restriction that can be imposed by the state
- The Parliament is empowered to make laws for implementing directive principles of state policy
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
ಉತ್ತರ ನೋಡಿ
ಉತ್ತರ: D
Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.
Practise this PYQ →Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಹಕ್ಕು ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 2005ರ ಸೆಕ್ಷನ್ 8(1)(j) ಯಾವುದನ್ನು ಬಹಿರಂಗಪಡಿಸುವಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ವಿನಾಯಿತಿ ನೀಡುತ್ತದೆ?
- ಬಹಿರಂಗಪಡಿಸಿದರೆ ಭಾರತದ ಸಾರ್ವಭೌಮತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅಖಂಡತೆಗೆ ಹಾನಿಯಾಗುವ ಮಾಹಿತಿ
- ಮಂತ್ರಿ ಮಂಡಳಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿಗಳ ಚರ್ಚೆಗಳನ್ನು ದಾಖಲಿಸುವ ಸಂಪುಟ ಪತ್ರಗಳು
- ವಿದೇಶಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಅಥವಾ ಅದರ ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಗಳಿಂದ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಡೆದ ಮಾಹಿತಿ
- ಯಾವುದೇ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆ ಅಥವಾ ಹಿತಾಸಕ್ತಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧವಿಲ್ಲದ ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಮಾಹಿತಿ
ಉತ್ತರ ನೋಡಿ
ಉತ್ತರ: D — ಸರಿಯಾದ ಉತ್ತರ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆ ಅಥವಾ ಹಿತಾಸಕ್ತಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧವಿಲ್ಲದ ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಮಾಹಿತಿ. ಸೆಕ್ಷನ್ 8(1)(j) ಇಂತಹ ಮಾಹಿತಿಗೆ ರಕ್ಷಣೆ ನೀಡುತ್ತದೆ.
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