CENTRE LACKS CAA APPLICATION RECORDS, INDICATED IN RESPONSE TO QUERY.

Why in the news?

Government lacks records of Citizenship (Amendment) Act applications, raising questions about the law’s impact and implementation.

 About Government’s Record-Keeping on CAA Applications:

  • Lack of Provision for Record Maintenance: The Union Home Ministry responded to an RTI query stating that the government does not have provisions to maintain records of applications received under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
  • RTI Inquiry Details: Ajay Bose from Amravati sought information on the total number of citizenship applications post the CAA Rules notification on March 11.
  • Significance of Response: The Ministry’s reply is crucial as it highlights the absence of data regarding the number of individuals benefitting from the CAA, despite initial estimations ranging from “lakhs and crores” to around 31,000 immediate beneficiaries, as mentioned by the Trinamool Congress.
source:slideserve
About Right to Information Act 2005:

  • Right to Information Act 2005: Mandates timely response to citizen requests for government information.
  • Objectives: Empower citizens, promote transparency, accountability, contain corruption, and strengthen democracy.

RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019:

  • Changed tenure of Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners.
  • Altered salary and service conditions of Commissioners.
  • Removed provisions on salary deductions for previous government service.
  • Criticised for diluting the law and centralizing power

Source:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/government-says-is-does-not-keep-record-of-caa-applications/article68072883.ece#:~:text=In%20response%20to%20the%20RTI,records%20of%20citizenship%20application%20received.