The Press should come under the ambit of the RTI Act, 2005

Ref: Are newspapers entitled to filing of application under the RTI Act?

http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/are-newspapers-entitled-filing-application-under-r-3519

Comment: 

The Press should be come under RTI Act ambit because it is a dire need of time. The Press collects a bunch of benefits from the Govt. and it is very interesting to note that all concessions of crores of rupees receive by media through public money indirectly. When the above three columns-Legislature, Executive & Judiciary-are under realm of RTI domain, then why should this fourth column media be kept away from RTI Act ? If it is said that political parties and medias are backbones of democracy, then there should be no need to ask them in this regard and compel them in any way declaring these as RTI encouraging institutions because these are not above the parliament and even the public. These are the part and parcel of public and receive many kinds of help at different levels such as allowances, facilities, support and favours as Press Council of India states. I have already applied for the same but second appeals in this concern are still pending unheard in CIC, New Delhi and even in SIC, Mumbai since year 2014. In fact media is insincere, hypocrite and of two faced attitude whereas political parties totally useless, hopeless and duty-free in behaviour.

In fact, each and every entity whether Govt. and Non-Govt. should be under the public domain because each and every financial activity is performed or carried into effect only with help of Public Money so should be under RTI Act purview because afterall the Public Money is an asset that is invested collectively by common people.

So, any media, political or other institution - though has been established or set up or formed under Section-20 of Societies Registration Act or under Section-25 of Company Act or any other act passed by the state assembly or central legislature - denies or neglects to furnish the details of its own, claiming that no concern with Govt. because it is not gaining any grants, aids or facilities from the Govt. However, it is very well known that each and every institution is approved by the Govt. under the concerned law or act passed by the Parliament. So no one institute can be formed and registered without consent of the Govt. Registration is a process of establishing institution’s identity with Govt. when the Govt. accepts its offer. 

Registration means agree to be a part of the Govt. and agree to abide by the Govt‘s rules and regulations and to become liable for grants, aids or facilities. Registered means as per Cambridge English Dictionary - officially listed and accepted. So it is also clear, by viewing some CIC’s decisions in this concern that if any institution may not be getting any financial assistance, but it is constituted by law made by the Parliament and it is sufficient to bring it within the purview of public authority. So and therefore any institution is an official element of Govt. which should be accountable and answerable to publish or declare in public its own particulars through any type of media.

Name: K C Jalgaonkar

Email id: jalgaonkar.kc@gmail.com