Report No. 275

C. Report of the Pranab Mukherjee Committee, 2001

2.11 A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, known as the Pranab Mukherjee Committee, 2001, was appointed to review and examine the Freedom of Information Bill, 2000.

2.12 The Committee heard the representatives of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Dr.Madhav Godbole, former Union Home Secretary, Shri A.G. Noorani, Senior Advocate and Prof. Manubhai Shah, Managing Trustee, Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS), in its meeting held on 24 January 2001. On 8 February 2001, it heard the representatives of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan and Justice P.B. Sawant, Chairman, Press Council of India. In addition to this, the Committee received written suggestions from Shri B.G. Deshmukh, former Cabinet Secretary.

These individuals and organisations put forward several suggestions and amendments. The Committee forwarded the views of these experts/organisations to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions for its comments. The Committee itself was of the view that many of these important suggestions were not covered in the Bill, and that the Government should consider and incorporate them to make the Bill more comprehensive.34