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Jethmalani's fiat to throw open files to public hangs fire

The government has not taken a final view on Urban Development Minister Ram Jethmalani's decision to make available the files concerning his ministry to anyone on payment of a nominal fee of Rs 10, official sources said here today.

The sources said the implementation of Jethmalani's decision had only been put on hold for the time being because the government would have to take a uniform decision in this regard. The urban affairs ministry could not take a decision in isolation, they added.

The sources, however, clarified that no written communication had been sent by Cabinet Secretary Prabhat Kumar to special secretary in the urban affairs and employment ministry, S S Chattopadhyaya with regard to Jethmalani's decision. The cabinet secretary had only verbally conveyed the cabinet's view in the matter to Chattopadhyaya.

Jethamalani has, meanwhile, denied that he had met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to discuss the issue or that he had been asked to freeze his new openness rules for official documents.

The sources said the government had some time back formed a four-member group of ministers to look into all aspects of the Freedom of Information Bill, the Official Secrets Act and the right to Information Bill and give its opinion on bringing about transparency in the bureaucratic functioning. In keeping with its commitment in the national agenda of governance, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has already circulated a note among the cabinet ministers on the subject.

The sources said the opinion of the four-member group, headed by Home Minister L K Advani, would form the basis for finalising the government's stand on making available official files to the public.

UNI

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