Indian PM voices concern over abuse of right to information law

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday expressed serious concern over the frivolous use of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and called for a balance between the citizens' right to know and one's privacy. "There is a fine balance required to be maintained between the right to information and the right to privacy, which stems out of the fundamental right to life and liberty. The citizens' right to know should definitely be circumscribed if disclosure of information encroaches upon someone's personal privacy. But where to draw the line is a complicated question," the Prime Minister said. He added that "there are concerns about frivolous and vexatious use of the Act in demanding information disclosure of which cannot possibly serve any public purpose." The Prime Minister was addressing a convention of central information commissioners in the national capital. Singh had earlier stressed the need for using the RTI Act to " its full potential" and said the right to information should be more about promoting transparency and accountability for "the benefit of our country and the people." India had passed the landmark Right to Information Act in 2005 "to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens".