56 1 review of laws, implementation of treaties and other international instruments of human rights
5.27 The Commission thus stated that the aims and objectives of any law on the
subject have to be to regulate and operationalise the right to information and facilitate
the enjoyment of this right by citizens. The question therefore was whether and to
what extent the Freedom of Information Bill, 2000 introduced in Parliament in 2000,
and on which the Standing Committee of Parliament had recently submitted its
report, met these aims and objectives.
5.28 The Commission gave its opinion only on the salient features of the Bill,
observing that the consideration of details should be undertaken in the light of the
basic premise indicated above.
F] Persons with Disabilities
(Equal Opportunities, Protection of
Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995
5.29 The Commission has been strongly urging that a higher level of attention be
given to the full and proper implementation of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal
Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 by the Central as
well as the State Governments. Accordingly, when the Commission learnt that the
Government of India was proposing to amend the Act in order to make it a more
powerful instrument for promoting equality and protecting the rights of disabled
persons, it requested the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to send it a copy
of the draft Bill for examination. On receipt of the draft, a clause by clause analysis was
made of it by the Research Division and placed before the Commission on 3 August
2000. The Commission then directed that the matter be further examined by Prof.
Amita Dhanda of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research University,
Hyderabad. Subsequently, the Committee directed that the gist of the suggestions
received from Prof. A. Dhanda be sent to the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment for their response. On receipt of the response from the Ministry, the
matter has been examined once again and is, at present, under the consideration of
the Commission.
NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION