Constitution of India is out of print since 1yr. reveals #RTI query

The latest (2014) editions of the Constitution of India are out of stock with the Govt of India for the last one year and hence it not available for selling to public, a RTI reply revealed.

The reply dated 29.9.2015 mentioned, that Govt. publishes pocket and A4 sized editions of ‘Constitution of India’ on time to time basis, but 2014 editions (the latest) of the Constitution of India’ are not available with the Vidhi Sahitya Prakashan, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Govt of India for distribution or selling to public.

According to the letter, only 2011, pocket sized bilingual edition is available for selling. The price of pocket sized bilingual edition is Rs. 200 only. Govt does not have any provision to send it free of cost. Anyone who wants to buy it can send the demand draft of the said amount to avail the copies of the Constitution of India.

After 2011, significant amendments has been made in the Constitution. In spite of so many latest developments, Govt has not taken initiative to print the latest edition of the Constitution.

Govt. of India does not have any specific written policy and directives to print and periodically publish the supreme document Constitution of India, a RTI letter reply No. 1(5)/2013-V.S.P.(Office) dated 15.04.2015 also revealed.

The reply said, that the Govt. publishes pocket and A4 sized editions of ‘Constitution of India’ on time to time basis. However, there is no any fixed time frame to print or publish it frequently. To make it available to the common people, the Department of Legal Literature Publication, Ministry of Law and Justice, Govt. of India, is responsible to print, publish and sell the ‘Constitution of India’.”

The reply also said, “There is no specific guidelines and policy on paper and printing quality etc.”

Letter no.3/58/2015-R.T.I. dated 15.04.2015 of the Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Govt. of India says, “Constitution of India is being published by Ministry of Law and Justice when it receives demand or request from Controller-Publications and Law Literature Publication, Legislative Department, bodies working under the Ministry of Law and Justice, New Delhi.”

"Eight years of RTI: A Retrospective" the theme of 8th Annual Convention of CIC

Shri Pranab Mukherjee, President of India will inaugurate the 8th Annual Convention of Central Information Commission at New Delhi tomorrow. This year the theme of the convention is “Eight years of RTI: A Retrospective”.

The two day convention has three technical sessions on RTI and inclusive growth, RTI-an anti-corruption tool and Media and RTI with eminent panellists like Prof. Abhijit sen, Member Planning Commission, Shri Harsh Mander, Shri J.M.Lyngdoh, Shri Subash C. Agrawal, Shri Siddharth Varadarajan, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, Dr. O.P. Kejariwal, Shri R.K.Keswani, Former Editor Dainik Bhasakar, Ms. Sonia Singh, Editorial Director, NDTV, Smt. Deepak Sandhu, Information Commissioner taking part in these sessions.

Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Shri V. Narayanasamy will also address the convention Shri Ramachandra Guha, noted historian and columnist will deliver the keynote address on Democracy in India: Mid-life Crisis. Shri Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, Jammu & Kashmir will deliver the valedictory address on Sep. 03, 2013.

For the first time, the convention will discuss the causal relationship between the inclusive economic growth and RTI, if any. Various views regarding the assertion that an effective access to information regime can be a vital tool in promoting more participatory development will be discussed. The other panels will deliberate on how to make RTI more effective for the containment of corruption. Panelists will share their experiences on using RTI and curbing of corruption. The panel on media and RTI will discuss the role of media in the governance process by catalyzing effective implementation of the Act, providing information to the citizens and building awareness of the Act while giving a voice to the citizens and acting as a watchdog on behalf of the citizens.