Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur has strongly criticized the decision of the Himachal Pradesh government to exclude the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau from the purview of the Right to Information Act.
Reacting to the decision, Jairam Thakur said the government’s claim that the move was taken within the legal framework is incorrect. He stated that the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau was established to curb corruption and take strict action against influential individuals involved in illegal activities. By keeping the department outside the RTI ambit, the government has weakened transparency and undermined a key mechanism used to combat corruption.
He further pointed out that Section 24 of the RTI Act clearly states that even security and intelligence agencies must provide information in cases related to corruption or human rights violations. According to him, such rights cannot be curtailed by Parliament or state assemblies, raising questions about how the government can prevent the Vigilance and ACB from providing information through an administrative order.
Thakur also demanded that the government clarify the intent behind the decision, calling it unfortunate for the democratic system and an attempt to weaken transparency.
The Leader of Opposition also opposed the recent increase in entry tax on vehicles entering the state. He described the decision as short-sighted and warned that neighbouring states, including Punjab, may impose similar taxes on vehicles from Himachal Pradesh in response.
He said the move would particularly affect residents of border districts such as Una district, Kangra district, Chamba district, Bilaspur district, Solan district and Sirmaur district, where people frequently travel to neighbouring states for work, education and healthcare.
Jairam Thakur added that during his government’s tenure, the entry fee imposed on vehicles entering the state had been abolished. He accused the current government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of burdening citizens through increased taxes in an attempt to raise revenue.
He also warned that the decision could negatively impact the state’s tourism industry, as tourists from neighbouring states might avoid visiting Himachal Pradesh due to higher taxes. Thakur urged the state government to reconsider what he termed a “publicly unpopular decision.”
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
