Ambedkar Action Alert: Fwd: How to make the best of Right to Information Act

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Fwd: How to make the best of Right to Information Act

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sucheta Dalal - Moneylife Foundation <mail@mlfoundation.in>
Date: Thu, Sep 29, 2011 at 7:18 PM
Subject: How to make the best of Right to Information Act
To: palashbiswaskl@gmail.com

RTI and The Way Forward

It is widely accepted that the Right to Information (RTI) Act has by far been the most empowering tool for citizen participation. It has enabled people to demand transparency and accountability from government officials. Who better than India's first chief information commissioner, Wajahat Habibullah, to speak about what the RTI Act has done for the present awakening in the country? We also have Mr Anil Diwan, a senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India who would share his insights on how to take the benefits of the RTI Act forward.

Date: Saturday, 15th October 2011.

3:30pm
Registration and Tea

4:00pm – 6.00pm
Session Time

4:00pm – 4:10pm
Introduction of guests by Moneylife Foundation

4:10pm – 4:45pm
Session by Wajahat Habibullah, former chief information commissioner

		Wajahat Habibullah, was the former chief information commissioner of the Government of India (October 2005 – September 2010). As an IAS officer from 1968 until his retirement in August 2005, Mr Habibullah held several important offices and was secretary to the Government of India in the ministry of panchayati raj (local government) before his appointment as the chief information commissioner. He currently heads the Minorities Commission. He also serves on the International Advisory Council of the Brookings Doha Centre.

4:45pm – 5:20pm Session by Anil Diwan, senior advocate, Supreme Court of India

		Anil Diwan, a senior advocate with the Supreme Court, started his practice in Bombay High Court in January 1952. He has been practising in the Supreme Court since the last 32 years. Mr Diwan is currently the President of the Bar Association of India and was former President of LAWASIA (1991-1993). He served on the International Law Association's committees on water resources and bio-technology. He has served as Amicus Curiae in several public interest litigations (PILs) before the Supreme Court of India involving high-level political and bureaucratic corruption.