Newsletter 144

A newsletter containing news, views, articles, investigative stories in the field of

Right to Information

from

Around the World

Issue No: 144 E - Alert Issue Date: 01-08-2017
 

India
Sasikala was allowed 23 visits, instead of 8, during four months in prison: RTI
Hindustan Times
A Right to Information (RTI) response has revealed that she was allowed a whopping 23 visits from February 16 – the date of her incarceration – to June 16...

Canada
Canada: Supreme Court fails to protect freedom of expression beyond its borders
Article19
ARTICLE 19 intervened in this case with Human Rights Watch, Open Net Korea, the Software Freedom Law Centre and the Centre for Technology and Society, arguing that global orders of this kind had a chilling effect on freedom of expression

Pakistan
Protecting Journalists
The Nation
The Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage met on Thursday to gauge the progress made on the intended bill...

India
Right to information is indeed potent; Modi's PMO handled one million rti pleas since 2014
The Indian Saga
On the applications for obtaining information which pertain to Multiple Public Authorities) shall not be transferred to such Public Authorities but rejected...

India
No Information for RTI Query on Taj Mahal, Archaeological Survey Officials To Lose Salary
Nyoooz
Not providing information about illegal constructions in the prohibited area around Taj Mahal proved costly for two officials of the Archaeological Survey of India...

UK
The Future of FOIA
FCW News
Technology has helped the government become more efficient and transparent in many areas. That hasn’t been the case in UK

USA
Editorial: Foundation of our freedom
Daily Press
President Trump's ascent to the White House came at a time when the public's right to know was already under attack...

India
Collector admits to electronic voting machine malfunction in RTI reply
Mumbai Mirror
"Every time the voter pressed a symbol of Coconut, allotted to a candidate, the LED lamp of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Lotus used to flash...

U.S
The Drone Program in Pakistan Is One of the Government’s Worst-Kept Secrets
ACLU
In August 2016, the government blacked out a court ruling against government secrecy (yes, really) hiding from the public its reasons for why the ruling should remain secret...

Bangladesh
Eight years old - How is the Right to Information Act faring?
The Daily Star
539 complaints were lodged with the Information Commission by disgruntled information seekers. Of these, 364 were accepted for hearing.

USA
At 50, US Information Law Key to Open Up Government
Voice of America
This month marks 50 years since the U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) went into effect...

UK
Hazlehead Crematorium report 'must be published'
BBC
An internal report into "abhorrent practices" at Hazlehead Crematorium in Aberdeen must be published, Scotland's Information Commissioner has ruled...

India
What does privacy mean in India?
Money Control
As the Supreme Court of the country debates on the landmark judgement of whether to make privacy a Fundamental Right, here’s a look at how the privacy stands in India at the present

Australia
Mark Bailey stood down over email scandal after CCC finds 'reasonable suspicion of corrupt conduct'
ABC
The Crime and Corruption Commission's findings put further pressure on the minority Palaszczuk Government in the lead-up to the next state election...

France
'Right to be forgotten' case in France referred to top European Union court
Reporters Committee for Freedom of Press
The case centered on a question of whether citizens of France, can demand that search engine results be removed from the Internet globally...

Africa
Call For Action On The Passage Of The RTI Bill
Peacefm Online
The importance of the RTI Legislation to the development and advancement of Democracy, Good Governance, Probity and Accountability...

U.S
ACLU requests records on Iowa share of voter info to Trump voter fraud commission
KCRG
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Iowa has sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate requesting specifics of President Trump's "voter fraud...

Pakistan
LG Members demands greater access to Information
The Tribune
RTI application for information regarding utilization of district government funds allocated to the local bodies in last two years...

India
PM Modi flew non-official trips to rallies in IAF planes at rates fixed in 1999
Hindustan Times
The trips were largely for electioneering, and India’s election code makes it must for ministers — including the PM...

Transparency and Right to Information Program
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Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives, Pakistan (CPDI-Pakistan)
Tel: +92 (0) 51-8312794, 8312795
URL: www.cpdi-pakistan.org