Jan Lokpal: Arvind Kejriwal draws flak for not making draft bills public

NEW DELHI: Former fellows of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the RTI movement have taken up the cudgels against him over not putting out draft Bills of proposed legislations on Jan Lokpal Bill and amendments to the Time Bound Service Delivery Act 2011 in the public domain. They want him to live up to his pre-election promise of participatory governance and transparency.

RTI activists Shailesh Gandhi, Aruna Roy, Prashant Bhushan, Nikhil Dey, Anjali Bhardwaj and Amrita Johri had written to the Delhi CM on November 21 regarding the lack of transparency and public consultation vis-a-vis the two proposed Bills. The activists, associated with National Campaign For People's Right To Information, chose to write these letters in the capacity of "individual RTI activists".

The CM's office responded on Monday stating that "as the fundamental suggestions from the public on these crucial bills were already known, the text of the proposed legislations on above Bills has not been put in public domain for further consultations."

Kejriwal's office has, however, conceded that there is a need for transparency and public consultation. "Henceforth, all matters pertaining to the Bills introduced in assembly will be put in public domain and suggestions invited in proper participatory process," the CMO added.

The activists replied to Kejriwal on Tuesday stating that they "are deeply disappointed and unable to understand why the AAP government decided that the text of the proposed Bills will neither be made public nor be put up for public consultation."

They pointed out that the justification by the CMO "would set a dangerous precedence for all governments to circumvent the need for public consultation".

The letter from the activists urges the government to reconsider its decision and make public the text of bills and also invite comments and suggestions. "It is imperative for the credibility of the government that it keep to its stated principles and promises of transparency and participatory governance," the letter states.

"Having been part of campaigns to demand transparency and public participation during drafting and formulation of crucial bills, you are well aware of how the design of legislations and institutions being set up therein, benefit from deliberations and consultations," the activists reminded Kejriwal.