Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy, who piloted the RTI (Amendment) Bill, 2013 in the Lok Sabha last month, informed the House that in a bid to hold wider consultations, the government is recommending that the bill be referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Personnel.

Several members from opposition supported the decision. The move comes in the wake of opposition to the proposed amendment to the RTI Act from NGOs, civil society and information activists, who claimed that it will defeat the very purpose of the transparency law.