New Delhi: Former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah has strongly criticized the recent amendment to the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which aligns it with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023. He said the move was unnecessary and risks weakening India’s transparency framework.
“The RTI Act already had sufficient safeguards for personal privacy. The amendment was not required,” Habibullah said in a conversation with Bhagirath, Assistant Editor of Down to Earth Hindi. He argued that the new changes blur the line between protecting personal data and ensuring public accountability.
According to Habibullah, the DPDP Act focuses on individual privacy, while the RTI Act upholds citizens’ right to access government information. By merging the two principles, the government has opened the door for officials to deny information under the pretext of privacy, even in matters of public interest. “The amendment could discourage whistleblowers and restrict investigative journalism,” he warned.
Habibullah, who played a central role in implementing the RTI Act in 2005, said that transparency in governance depends on citizens’ ability to question those in power. Shielding public servants behind data protection laws, he added, contradicts the very purpose of the RTI Act.
Civil society groups and legal experts have also expressed concern that the amendment may be used to hide administrative lapses and corruption. Many are demanding clearer provisions to ensure the RTI Act continues to empower citizens rather than protect officials.
