New Delhi, Jan 10: President has given his assent to two bills, including the one to amend the Representation of the People Act, to prevent criminalisation of politics.
The Representation of the People (second amendment) Bill 2002 and the Freedom of Information Bill 2002, passed during the winter session, have been notified in the gazette.
The Representation of The People Act seeks to amend Section 8 of the Representation of The People Act 1951 to include the period of conviction plus period of disqualification for six years under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, the Commission of Sati (prevention) Act 1987 and for offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2002 in order to wean electoral practices from criminalisation, an official release said.
Hereafter, no one from behind the bar would contest elections to Parliament or state legislatures and the amendment comes into force immediately. The Freedom of Information Act providing for freedom to every citizen to secure information from both central and state governments, seeks to make government open, transparent, responsive and accountable to the people.

It envisages appointment of public information officer in every ministry and department to attend to demand of the people for official information against nominal service charge for certified photocopies of documents.


There would, however, be exemption from disclosure of information in areas of defence, securities, intelligence agencies, cabinet papers, minutes of advice, including legal ones relating to decision making, trade or commercial secrets, information likely to breach privilege of parliament and state legislature.

Bureau Report