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Cabinet withdraws draft amendments to RTI Act

The Union Cabinet on Thursday decided to withdraw controversial draft amendments to the Right to Information Act that had sought to restrict disclosure of file notings only to social and developmental issues.

The Union Cabinet on Thursday decided to withdraw controversial draft amendments to the Right to Information Act that had sought to restrict disclosure of file notings only to social and developmental issues. After this, all file notings can be made public except those explicitly exempted, such as the ones related to national security, privacy and protection of commercial interest. In 2006, the Cabinet had approved the amendments but they did not make it to Parliament because of the stiff opposition.

The Cabinet also gave more teeth to two laws dealing with welfare of construction workers by approving amendments which, among other things, will eases some restrictions for availing benefits. The amendments to the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, and Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996, were cleared by the Cabinet at its meeting on Thursday. The Building and Other Construction Workers Related Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2012, is expected to be introduced in the Winter Session.

The amendments would also facilitate speedy implementation of these Acts by the central and state governments, an official statement said.

According to the proposed amendment, the prerequisite condition of engagement for 90 days to get registered for enjoying benefits is proposed to be done away with. Besides, to extend benefits to the workers who are engaged in building and construction work after attaining the age of 60, the upper age limit criteria is also proposed to be removed.

The amendments also seek to empower states to file complaints for any contravention of provisions. The amendments also prescribed a time limit of 30 days for cess collecting authorities to deposit cess to the state building and other construction workers welfare board which is utilised for welfare of the workers.

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First published on: 02-11-2012 at 01:45 IST
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