tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47173238573304564262024-03-13T08:39:35.953-05:00Information MediaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-62996484695950392792013-05-06T06:33:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:36.110-05:00Most welcome to Right To Information Blog. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><div><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today's knowledge based world is now resonating with the call for meaningful democracy backed by transparency and accountability in the state engine and people’s right of access to information has gained a great importance. In a modern democratic state, the right to information, more popularly described as the ‘right to know,’ is an indispensable prerequisite. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 105.3pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is no denying the fact that the notion of freedom of thought, of conscience, of speech and rule of law become worthless if the people are deprived of access to information. There appears to have been a universal recognition of the demand and necessity for the establishment of people’s right of access to information. The experience in other countries suggests that this scenario can be changed by empowering people with right to information or freedom of information. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Howover, the basic object of the Right to Information Act, 2009 of Bangladesh is to empower the citizens by promoting transparency and accountability in the working of the public, autonomous and statutory organizations and other private organizations constituted or run by the government or foreign financing with the ultimate aim of decreasing corruption and establishing good governance in our democratic society in real sense.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">An informed citizenry will be better equipped to keep necessary vigil over the instruments of government and make the government more accountable to the governed. The Act has created a practical regime through which the citizens of the country may have access to information under the control of public and other authorities. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Of any existing law- (a) the provisions of providing information shall not be affected by the provisions of this Act; and (b) the provisions of creating impediment in providing information shall be superseded by the provisions of this Act if they become conflicting with the provisions of this Act. (N.B Right to Information Act, 2009- Section 3)</span></span></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="line-height: 16.5pt;"></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /><div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 16.5pt;"></span></span><br /><div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 16.5pt;">Thanks again for visiting my RTI Blog. You are requested to leave a valuable comment.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 16.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-24931673556934518562013-05-06T06:32:00.000-05:002013-05-07T09:48:12.434-05:00RTI Act in the SAARC Countries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">Among the SAARC Countries, Pakistan was the first to issue an ordinance in 2002 namely “Freedom of Information Ordinance, 2002”. But the country failed to assert and implement the Act due to various national and administrative complications.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Similarly, SAARC country Sri Lanka, being subjected to their prolonged civil war, could not compile any law regarding the information right. On the other hand, Nepal has issued the RTI Act in 2007 and has granted the decision of including the right to information as a part of the constitutionally defined fundamental rights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Correspondingly, Bhutan, in spite of initiating activities to establish right to information, has not been able to enact the law so far. Same is in Maldives where RTI Act has not been issued yet. </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">In addition, Afghanistan has initiated establishing this law in the midst of emergency situation. India, being one of the SAARC countries, issued the RTI Ordinance in 2002.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Later on, after observing the problems of the RTI Ordinance, 2002, the country enacted an amended the Right to Information Act in 2005.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Bangladesh, by enacting the Right to Information Act, 2009 unanimously in the very first assembly of the 9th National Parliament, has achieved appreciation from the international entities. Besides, the civil societies, human rights workers, print and electronic media, journalists of the country and many more have highly praised and welcomed this Act.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-3769994733299960802013-05-06T06:28:00.002-05:002013-05-07T09:51:05.388-05:00Fundamental Human Rights by Article-39 of the Constitution<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #660000; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Freedom of thought, conscience and speech are identified as the significant fundamental human rights by article 39 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">Having considered the right to information as the precondition of ensuring civil liberties, the Government of Bangladesh enacted the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2009. The foremost aim and objective of this Act is to reduce corruption and ensure good governance, transparency and accountability in all public and private organizations. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">The government, in order to facilitate the rapid implementation of the RTI Act, established the Information Commission and appointed all necessary officials soon after issuing the Act. Such enthusiastic and valiant endeavor of the government was highly appreciated both in home and abroad, hence boosted the image of the country.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">However, the responsibility of implementing the RTI Act, though largely lies on the Information Commission, the other influential institutions of the society e.g. private organizations, corporate offices, print and electronic media, public representatives, politicians and the general people are responsible to assist in the implementation of this Act as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">The Information Commission, as like the past years, has taken initiative to publish an annual report this year, which is also an obligation of the Commission by Section 30 of the RTI Act. Situation and progress of the RTI Act implementation would be imparted to the nation through submitting this report to the Honorable President of Bangladesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">According to the RTI Act, it is obligatory to appoint a Designated Officer in every government and non-government organization who would provide the sought information to the applicants following the regulations and exceptions of the law in exchange of the determined fee. If the Designated Officer fails to provide information within 20 (twenty) working days from receiving the request, the applicant can forward the appeal to the Appellate Authority, and failing to obtain information from there would allow the person to file a complaint to the Information Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">The Commission therefore will imply the authority of the Civil Court to summon the involved parties and resolve the issue through conducting hearing process and other formalities. However, it is important for every organization to preserve all necessary information in order to provide them to the applicants when sought and to publish and present their activities pro-actively to keep people informed and updated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">The Right to Information Act 2009 is special due to some reasons. The RTI Act of Bangladesh has bestowed the authority to the Information Commission to summon any individual to the Commission and to order presenting all necessary oral or written evidences to the complainant or the respondent. If found guilty, the Commission can fine any officer; can suggest the concerned management to take departmental action and if applicable, can order to compensate the complainant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">After its establishment, the Information Commission took the endeavor to issue some regulations like the ‘Right to Information (obtaining information) Regulations, 2009’ and the amendment of the ‘Right to Information (obtaining information) Regulations, 2009’. Afterward, the Commission provided necessary guideline in issuing the ‘Right to Information (information preservation and management) Regulations, 2010’ which included categorizing and indexing system to preserve and manage information, and the ‘Right to Information (publishing and distributing information) Regulations, 2010’ etc.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-23347887718010960392013-05-06T06:28:00.001-05:002013-05-07T09:54:12.207-05:00Background of Right To Information <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Freedom of thought, conscience and speech are identified as the significant fundamental human rights by article 39 of the Constitution of the People‟s Republic of Bangladesh. The right to obtain information is an integral part of civil liberties.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">It is recognized as one of the important elements of empowering human, which is obligatory to enhance transparency and accountability in government, statuary and constitutional organizations as well as private institutions run by government or foreign funding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">It is believed that proper implementation of the RTI Act would reduce corruption and establish good governance. From this observation and belief, the government of the People‟s Republic of Bangladesh has enacted the Right to Information Act (RTI) in 2009, established the Information Commission as the law implementing authority and appointed all necessary officials.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Such enthusiastic and valiant endeavor of the government was highly appreciated both in home and abroad, hence boosted the image of the country. However, the responsibility of implementing the RTI Act, though largely lies on the Information Commission, the non-governmental organizations and the general people are responsible as well to assist in the implementation of this Act. People should learn this law and its applications to enjoy its benefits, therefore should come forward to ease the path of their empowerment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Though only three years have been passed since the establishment of the Information Commission, the history of the right to information movement is quite long. In order to strengthen the democratic system, the Press Council recommended enacting the RTI Act in 1983.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">In 2002, the Law Commission decided promulgating the RTI Act and in continuation, submitted a draft outline to the government in 2003. At a time, the civil societies, representatives of NGOs, print and electronic media, prosecutors, politicians, educationists and many others raised their voice and prepared a platform in favour of the RTI Act. Followed by this movement, the RTI Ordinance was issued in 20th October, 2008 after executing all relevant formalities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">The present Government, in pursuing their political commitment, passed the Right to Information Act, 2009 in the first assembly of the 9th National Parliament and the Act was published as an Official Gazette on 6<sup>th</sup> April, 2009.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-14536085883277214682013-05-06T06:28:00.000-05:002013-05-07T09:55:37.027-05:00What is Information according to RTI Act?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is Information? </span><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Information is any material in any form.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It includes any memo, book, design, map, contract, data, log book, order, notification, document, sample, letter, report, accounts, project proposal, photograph, audio, video, drawing, painting, film, any instrument done through electronic process, machine readable record, and any other documentary material regardless of its physical form or characteristics, and any copy thereof in relation to the constitution, structure and official activities of any authority. Provided that it shall not include note-sheets or copies of note-sheets.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Authority” means-</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. any organization constituted in accordance with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. and ministry, division or office established under the Rules of Business made under article 55(6) of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. any statutory body or institution established by or under any Act;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. any private organisation or institution run by government financing or with aid in grant from the government fund;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. any private organisation or institution run by foreign aid in grant;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. any organisation or institution that undertakes public functions in accordance with any contract made on behalf of the Government or made with any public organisation or institution;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7. or any organisation or institution as may be notified in the official Gazette from time to time by the Government.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />“Information Providing Unit” means head office, divisional office, regional office, district office or upazila office of any department, directorate or office attached to or under any ministry, division or office of the Government; head office, divisional office, regional office, district office or upazila office of an authority.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-14611087212193833712013-05-06T06:25:00.000-05:002013-05-07T09:57:08.381-05:00How to make a request for Right To information?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">You must submit an application to the concerned Designated Officer (DO) of the concerned authority directly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">All information requests must be in writing (this includes e-mail) and provide the applicant’s name, address and other particulars for a response in prescribed format as mentioned in the Rules.</span><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Describe the information sought for as correctly and clearly as possible.</span><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can express a reasonable preference for the mode you wish the information to be supplied, for example, making inspection, having copy, taking note or any other approved mode like e-mail.</span><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">For obtaining information you must pay fees as determined by the DO as prescribed in the Rules.</span><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14.25pt;">Publication of or providing with certain types of information not mandatory.—Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, no authority shall be bound to provide with the following information, namely—</span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(a) any such information that may, if disclosed, cause a threat to the </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">security, integrity and sovereignty of Bangladesh;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(b) any such information relating to any aspect of foreign policy that </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">may affect the existing relationship with any foreign country or </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">international organisation or any regional alliance or organization;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(c) any secret information received from a foreign government;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(d) any information relating to inherent secrets of commercial or </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">business nature, copyright or intellectual property right that may, if </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">published, affect the intellectual property right of a third party.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(e) any of the following information that may, if disclosed, be gainful </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">or damaging to any particular individual or organization, namely :-<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(i) any advance information about income tax, customs, VAT </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">and law relating to excise duty, budget or change in the tax </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">rate;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(ii) any advance information about changes relating to exchange </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">rate and interest rate;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(iii) any advance information about the management and </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">supervision of the financial institutions including banks;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(f) any such information that may, if disclosed, obstruct the </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">enforcement of law or incite any offence;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(g) any such information that may, if disclosed, endanger the security </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">of public or impede the due judicial process of a pending case;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(h) any such information that may, if disclosed, offend the privacy of </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">the personal life of an individual;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(i) any such information that may, if disclosed, endanger the life or </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">physical safety of any person;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(j) any such information given in confidence to any law enforcement </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">agency by a person;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(k) any matter pending before any court of law and which has been </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(l) any such information that may, if disclosed, impede the process of </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">investigation;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(m) any such information that may, if disclosed, affect any </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">investigation process of offence and the arrest and prosecution of </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">offender;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(n) any such information which is, according to law, liable to be </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">published only for a certain period of time;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(o) any such information that is generated through technical or </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">scientific experiment, and is expedient to keep secret for strategic </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">or commercial reasons;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(p) any such information pertaining to a purchase process before it is </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">complete or a decision has been taken about it;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(q) any such information that may be prejudicial to the special rights of </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">the House of the Nation;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(r) any secret information of a person which is protected by law;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(s) any advance, information relating to question papers of an </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">examination or marks given;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #727272; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">(t) any document including summaries to be placed before the Cabinet </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">or, as the case may be, before the Council of Advisers and </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">information relating to discussions and decisions of such meetings </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Provided that after taking any decision by the Cabinet or, as the case may be, by the Council of Advisors, the reasons of taking such decisions and the basis upon which the decisions are taken may be disclosed : Provided further that the concern authority shall take prior approval from Information Commission for withholding information under this section.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-43820119179993406242013-05-06T06:23:00.000-05:002013-05-07T09:58:42.165-05:00Designated Officer's (DO) Duty for providing Information.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 1.4;">The Designated Officer (DO) shall render reasonable assistance to the persons seeking information. If a person is unable to make a request in writing, he may seek the help of the DO to write his application.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">Where a decision is taken to give access to a sensorial disabled person to any document, the Designated Officer, shall provide such assistance to enable access to information, including providing such assistance to the person as may be appropriate for the inspection.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">According to the RTI Act, every authority is legally bound to appoint a Designated Officer for each of the information providing units at central, divisional, district and Upazila at the lowest level in every government and non-government organization who would provide the sought information to the applicants following the regulations and exceptions of the law in exchange of the determined fee. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">If the Designated Officer fails to provide information within 20 (twenty) or 30 (Thirty) working days from receiving the request, the applicant can forward the appeal to the Appellate Authority, and failing to obtain information from there would allow the person to file a complaint to the Information Commission. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">It is important for every organization to preserve all necessary information in order to provide them to the applicants when sought and to publish and resent their activities pro-actively to keep people informed and updated. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-44844119843218185142013-05-06T06:07:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:36.194-05:00Appeal Procedure for having RTI<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">If an applicant is not supplied information within the prescribed time of 20 or 30 days or 24 hours, as the case may be, or is not satisfied with the information furnished to him or is aggrieved by a decision of the Designated Officer, may prefer an appeal to the Appellate Authority who is the administrative head of its immediate superior office within a period or thirty days from the date on which the time limit expires or receipt of such a decision.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">The appellate authority of the public authority shall dispose of the appeal within a period of fifteen days after hearing the concerned parties to the appeal petition.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Complaints</span></u></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">There is no prescribed form for submission of complaint to the Information Commission. The application can be made on plain paper any time within 30 days from the date of expiry of the prescribed time limit for giving requested information.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">The Commission is also empowered to receive any complaint after the expiry of the prescribed time limit if it deems the grounds shown in the petition of complaint to be reasonable.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">The application should, however, have the name and complete postal address along with e-mail address and mobile phone number (if any) of the complainant. Even in cases where the information is sought electronically, the application should contain name and postal address of the applicant.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">If any person is unable to submit a request to any Designated Officer either by reason that such an officer has not been appointed by the concerned public authority; or the Designated Officer has refused to accept his or her application or he has been refused access to any information requested by him under the RTI Act; or he has not been given a response to a request for information within the time limit specified in the Act; or he has been required to pay an amount of fee which he considers unreasonable; or he believes that he has been given incomplete, misleading or false information, he can make a complaint to the Information Commission.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-36228217627336024712013-05-06T04:25:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:36.203-05:00Powers and Fuctions of Information Commission<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">The Information Commission (IC) enforces and oversees the Right to Information Act, Rules and Regulations made under the Act. </span><br /><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">The </span><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Information Commission's </span><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">main functions are educating and influencing. </span><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">It promote good practice and give information and advice for</span><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">resolving problems and enforcing. IC</span><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"> resolve eligible complaints from people who think their rights have been breached. It</span><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"> use legal sanctions against those who ignore or refuse to accept their obligations. </span><br /><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">As part of the IC's work, Commission comments on significant internal and external consultations that relate to RTI. It also invite comments about significant documents we produce about our work. </span></span><span style="color: orange; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Commission</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"> can helps you to access information from any public body or other authorities as defined in the Act and to find out information on your requirement/demand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">The Functions of the Information Commission shall be as follows namely-<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">1. to issue directives for the preservation, management, publication, publicity of and access to information by authority;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">2. to prescribe the procedure for applying for information from the authority and, as the case may be, to fix appropriate price of information;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">3. to formulate guidelines and directives as to the preservation and implementation of the right to information of the citizens;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">4. to consider the provisions recognized under the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh or any other law for the time being in force in order to preserve the right to information and recommend to the Government for their effective implementation<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">by indicating the impediments;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">5. to identify the impediments against the preservation and implementation of right to information of the citizens and recommend to the Government for appropriate solution;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">6. to conduct research on the agreements relating to the right toinformation and other international instruments and to recommend to the Government for their implementation;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">7. to examine the similarities of the prevailing law relating to the maintenance and implementation of the right to information of the citizens and to make necessary recommendation to the or, as the case may be, to the appropriate authority in order to ensure their harmonization with the international instruments;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">8. to advise the Government to ratify or sign any international instrument on right to information;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">9. to conduct research on preservation and implementation of the right to information and to assist the educational and professional institution for conducting such research;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">10. to publicize the issues relating to the preservation and implementation of the right to information among different classes of citizens of the society and to increase their awareness about the right to information by publishing, disseminating or any other means;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">11. to advise and provide assistance to the Government in order to make necessary laws and administrative directives for preservation and implementation of right to information;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">12. to advise and provide assistance to the organizations or institutions working for the preservation and implementation of the right to information and to citizens in general;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">13. to increase public awareness on right to information by conducting research, seminars, symposiums, workshops and similar other measures and disseminate the result obtained from the research;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">14. to give the authority technical and other assistance with a view to ensuring right to information;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">15. to establish a web portal for Bangladesh to ensure right to information;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">16. to oversee the actions taken under any other law relating to the preservation and implementation of the right to information.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"></div><br /> <div class="MsoNormal"></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-89407173957184970962013-05-06T04:24:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:36.214-05:00Exemptions from Disclosure according to RTI Act.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">The right to seek information from a public authority is not absolute. Sections 7of the Act enumerates the categories of information which are exempt from disclosure.</span></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #e06666; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">At the same time the Schedule attached to the Act contains the names of the Organizations which are exempt from the purview of the Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #777777; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> The exemption of the organization, however, does not cover supply of information relating to allegations of corruption and human rights violations.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The applicants should abstain from seeking information, which is exempt under Section 7, from the organizations included in the Schedule except information relating to allegations of corruption and human right violations.</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The list of exempted organizations as per RTI Act, 2009 is given below:</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. National Security Intelligence (NSI),</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. Directorate General Forces Intelligence (DGFI),</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. Defence Intelligence Units,</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Bangladesh Police,</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. Special Security Force (SSF),</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. Intelligence Cell of the National Board of Revenue,</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7. Special Branch, Bangladesh Police,</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8. Intelligence Cell of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Inapplicability of this Act in case of certain organizations and institutions<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any provisions of this Act, this Act shall not apply to the organisations and institutions which are involved in state security and intelligence mentioned in the Schedule.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 43.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), this section shall not apply to such information that are pertaining to corruption and violation of human rights in the above-mentioned organisations and institutions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) On receipt of any request for information under sub-section<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) the concerned organisation or institution shall, subject to the approval of the Information Commission, provide the applicant with the requested information within 30 (thirty) days from the date of receipt of such request.</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) The Government if necessary may, in consultation with the Information Commission, amend the Schedule increasing or decreasing the number of organisations and institutions mentioned in the Schedule by a notification published in the official Gazette from time to time.</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 99.4pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 49.95pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 49.95pt; text-align: justify;"></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-41923299344750593782013-05-06T04:22:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:36.223-05:00Disposal of Complaints by the Information Commission<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><br /><div style="line-height: 23.99305534362793px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">The Information Commission decides complaints and conveys its decision to the complainant and Appellate Authority/Designated Officer.</span></div><div style="line-height: 23.99305534362793px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;"> Any person who, does not receive a decision within the time specified, or is aggrieved by a decision of the Designated Officer or the Appellate Authority, as the case may be, may within thirty days from the expiry of such period or from the receipt of such a decision submit a complaint to the Information Commission. </span></div><div style="line-height: 23.99305534362793px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;"> On receipt of a complaint the Chief Information Commissitioner, if finds it necessary, may himself inquire into or direct inquiry by any of the Information Commissioners into the contents of the petition.</span></div><div style="line-height: 23.99305534362793px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">The Commission may decide a complaint after hearing the parties to the complaint or by inspection of documents produced by the complainant and DO or the Appellate Authority who decided the appeal or the third party (if any and if required).The Commission will inform of the date of hearing to the parties concerned before the date of hearing. </span></div><div style="line-height: 23.99305534362793px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">The parties may present their statements before the Commission either personally or through their engaged lawyers at the time of hearing.</span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-10803773906628280172013-05-06T04:20:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:36.315-05:00Some questions about RTI Act?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">1. Q: Do all people have the right to get information?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: Section 4 of the 2009 Right to Information Act guarantees that every citizen has the right to information and the concerned authority is obligated to provide information at the request of a person.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">2. </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Q: Is there any explanation provided in the Act on the definition of information?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: Section 2 (f) of the Act clearly classifies information. For example, Information means any memo, book, design, map, agreement, information-data, log book, order, notice, document, sample, letter, statement, accounts, project proposal, photographs, audio-video, painting, film, electronically made instrument, machine readable documents and any informational material or its replica with regards to formation and functioning of any organization. However, any official note sheet or copy of a note sheet will not be included.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">3. Q: Who will appoint Designated Officers?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: As per section 10 of the Right to Information Act, every authority will appoint a Designated Officer within 60 days of the entry of this Act into force.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">4. Q: Which organizations will appoint a ‘Designated Information Officer’ ?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Answer: As per Section 2 (b) and 2(d) of the Right to Information Act 2009, the following organizations/offices will appoint Designated Information Officers in their head, divisional, district and upazila offices:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(a) Any constitutional body of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh;<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(b) Ministries, Divisions and Offices established as per the Rules under Article 55(6) of the Constitution of Bangladesh;<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(c) All statutory bodies;<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(d) Private organizations operated by the Government financing or supported by a grant from government funds;<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(e) Non-government organizations receiving with foreign assistance;<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(f) Any private organization commissioned for any public work as per contract with the Government or any organization of the Government.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(g) Organizations to be determined by the government through gazette notification from time to time. </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">5. </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Q: What should a Designated Officer do and not do while giving information?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Answer: As per section 9 of the Right to Information Act-2009, a Designated officer should do the following while giving information:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(a) The Designated Officer will provide information within a maximum 20 working days of receipt of an application from a citizen.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(b) The information should be given within 30 working days if more than one unit or authorities are involved with the information.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(c) If the Designated Officer for any reason is unable to provide information, he/she will inform the applicant within 10 working days of the reason.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(d) The Designated Officer will provide primary information within 24 hours of receiving any application if it is related to any matter of life, death, arrest or release of a person from jail.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(e) If the Designated Officer possesses the information to be supplied to the applicants, he/she will ascertain a fair price of the information and the applicant will be requested to pay the price within five working days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(f) If a third party is involved with providing the information, the Designated officer will issue a notice to the third party to provide a written or verbal opinion within five working days of receiving the request.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(g) After receiving the opinion of the third party, the Designated officer will take decision about giving information to the applicant after consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(h) A request for information for which provision is not mandatory should not be rejected outright. The portion of the information that is not mandatory for disclosure may be logically withheld and the remaining information may be provided to the applicant. The Designated Officer will help the physically impaired persons in getting information.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">According to Section 7 of the Act, it is not mandatory for a Designated Officer to provide information on 20 matters in the schedule under Section 32 of the Act and eight organizations are exempted from giving information. However, these organizations with prior approval of the Information Commission must provide information if it is related to corruption issues or violation of human rights.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">6. Q: How will poor and illiterate women collect information and what does the Act say concerning underprivileged women?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: As per Section 4 of the Act, every person has the right to get information and the concerned authority is obligated to provide information at the request of a person. Nothing is mentioned for poor or illiterate women as the law is equal for all citizens. However, an illiterate person may apply for information by giving one’s finger print as per the law.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">7. Q: What action will be taken against the officials who say they are not obliged to give information?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: As per Section 9 of the Right to Information Act, a Designated Officer is bound to respond to an applicant within the stipulated time. In case of failure of the Designated Officer to do so, the applicant, under Section 24 of the Act, may appeal to the appellate authority within the next 30 days. Within 15 days the appellate authority will either give directives to the concerned Designated Officer to provide information or reject the appeal if it found to lack grounds. If the applicant becomes aggrieved with the decision, he/she may submit a complaint with the Information Commission within the next 30 days according to section 25. The Information Commission will arrange a hearing of all concerned parties and take a decision in this regard within 45 days. However, time for resolution of the complaint may be extended in case the statement of a person or investigation is required. In any case,, the extended time must not be more than 75 days. If the Designated Officer is found guilty in the investigation, the commission may recommend for departmental punishment including fine.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">8. Q: Between the 1923 Secrecy Act and the 2009 Right to Information Act which will be given precedence while providing information?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: The 2009 Right to Information Act will have precedence for those sections of the 1923 Secrecy Act which are contrary to the provision of information (Section 3).</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">9. Q: What action can the Information Commission take in a case where an organization gives wrong information?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: As per section 13 (e) of the Act, the Information Commission have the power to receive any complaint against any organization, carry out an investigation and dispose of the matter as per law.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">10. Q: Is it possible to take any departmental action against the officials responsible for giving misleading information?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: According to section 13(e) of the 2009 Right to Information Act, the Information Commission has the power to impose a fine against an official under section 27 (d) and (e), bring charges of misconduct under section 27 (3) against any official and recommend departmental punishment.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">11. Q: What action may be taken against the Designated Officer if he/she denies information?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: If a Designated Officer denies any information, the applicant for information may file an appeal with appellate authority within 30 days under section 24 of the act.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">12. Q: Whether information can be sought from the police and RAB?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: Certainly, information may be sought from the police and RAB. However, under section 32 of the 2009 Right to Information Act, the Act will not be applicable for the Special Branch of Bangladesh Police and intelligence cell of the RAB. However, any information related to corruption of the organization or human rights violations should be provided upon prior approval of the Information Commission.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">13. Q: How do government officials/employees get information from other offices?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: There is no problem of getting information by government officials/ employees from other offices in the 2009 Right to Information Act. They may get information in the same way as the citizens.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">14. Q: Who is the appellate authority and who will appoint them ?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: As per section 2 (a) of the Right to Information Act, the head of the immediate upper administrative office of the information delivering unit will be the appellate authority. In case of absence of any such office, the administrative chief of the concerned information delivering unit will be the appellate authority.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">15. Q: How will information of the judiciary be made available?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: It is necessary for the judiciary as per Section 2(b)(i) of the Right to Information Act to furnish any information sought by citizens. Under Section 9 of the Act, a person upon applying for any information may get it from the concerned Designated Officer within a certain period.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br /><br />16. Q: When is information to be made available quickly?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: As per section 9 (4) of the act, the Designated Officer will provide information within 24 hours of a request for information on life or death, arrest or release of a person from prison.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br /><br />17. Q: Will the Designated Officer be made responsible in cases where a person distorts information?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Answer: It is stated in the section 4 (5) of the 2009 Right to Information Rules that the Designated Officer will sign every page to be given to an applicant for information. The paper will contain the name, designation, signature and official seal of the Designated Officer. Thus, there is no scope to distort the information provided by the Designated Officer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">18. Q: Is there any fee to get information?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: The 2009 Right to Information Rules in the Form no-8 (d) stipulates the following fees for information:</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(1) For supplying any written document (map, design, photograph, computer print) on A3 or A4 size paper, every page is 2 Taka, and for any larger size copy the actual price of the paper.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(2) For supplying information on a disc, CD etc.: (a) free of cost if the applicant supplies the disc or CD, (b) actual price of the disc or CD if it is supplied by the information provider.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(3) Free of cost if the information is supplied to anybody as per law, government rules, or directives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">(4) Any commercial publication at its sale value.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">19. Q: What is the role of journalists to implement the Right to Information Act?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: Journalists of both electronic and print media can play an important role in implementing the 2009 Right to Information Act. Their publicity will enhance the level of public awareness about the Act and make public understand the useful aspects of the Act.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">20. Q: Is the Police Force obliged to give information?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Answer: As per law, the Police Force is obliged to provide information. However, as per schedule 7 of the section 32 of the Right to Information Act, the Special Branch of Bangladesh Police and intelligence cell of the RAB were exempted from this obligation. However, any information related to corruption of the organization or human rights violations should be provided upon prior approval of the Information Commission. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">21. Q: What is an information providing unit?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Answer: An “information providing unit” means head office, divisional office, regional office, district office or upazila office of any department, directorate or office attached to or under any ministry, division or office of the Government. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">22. Q: Who will provide information if an office has no Designated Officer?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Answer: Under the 2009 Right to Information Act, the appointment of a Designated Information Officer is mandatory for every office. In the absence of the Designated Officer, an alternative officer will discharge the duty. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-31723180079181119332013-05-06T01:45:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:36.411-05:00 Information Commissioners of IC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Chief Information Commissioner (CIC)</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></u></span></div><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #515151; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Ambassador (Rtd.) Mohammed Farooq</span></strong></h2><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">Career Summary:</span></strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1973-2006) Career Diplomat 32½ years of Experience, traveling across four continents as a representative of Bangladesh promoting and enhancing bilateral ties with the global community.My commitments as a diplomat largely involved in strengthening and establishing new business ties for Bangladesh within the international forum.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">Professional Experience:</span></strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;"><strong>-Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dhaka,</strong><strong><strong><strong> Bangladesh,</strong> Section Officer,</strong>(1973-1979)</strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">As a career diplomat, I’ve worked in various wings within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including South Asia, Legal Division, Protocol, Consular, Administration,the European desk, Multilateral,Southeast Asia (SEA) wings and so forth.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;"><strong>-Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, </strong><strong><strong>Romanian Second/First Secretary</strong> (1979-1983) </strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">Represented Bangladesh Embassy in Bucharest, Romania and opened the Trade Mission in Bulgaria, also served as CDA for about two years.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;"><strong>-Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, </strong><strong><strong>Bhutan First Secretary/Counselor/CDA</strong> (1983-1985) </strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">Represented Bangladesh Embassy in Thimphu, Bhutan. Contributed towards the first official trade agreement with Bhutan.<strong></strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;"><strong>-Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dhaka, Bangladesh, </strong><strong><strong>Director </strong>(1985-1989) </strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Actively responsible for the Finance desk, South East Asia, SAARC, Protocol and the legal division</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Attended the SAARC summits in Kathmandu, Nepal and Islamabad, Pakistan. Also took part in various other international conferences, workshops and meetings in various capitals across the globe and at home.<strong></strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;"><strong>-Bangladesh High Commission Canberra Australia, Counselor/Deputy Head of Mission, </strong><br /><strong>(1989-1993)</strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Involved in organizing single country trade fair in collaboration with the Australian Government for several years.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Involved with AIDAP (Australian International Development Assistance Program) for granting aids and relevant Assistance.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Arranged scholarships for Bangladeshi students and government officials.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Established a club called "Friends of Bangladesh" for the purpose of bilateral unity.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;"><strong>-Bangladesh High Commission Kuala Lumpur </strong><strong><strong>Malaysia, Counselor/Deputy Head of Mission</strong> (1993-1995) </strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Major contributions included arranging Trade Fairs and the export of Bangladeshi rice for the first time to the Malaysian market.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Involved in legalization of half a million Bangladeshi workers.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• I also served as chief coordinator for summit level visits.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;"><strong>-Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dhaka Bangladesh Director of Trade and Investment, Promotions/Director of Multilateral Economic Affairs/ Director General South East Asia </strong><strong>(1995-1997)</strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Arranged summit level visits at home and in South East Asian region.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Involved in several important matters beneficial to mutual ties between state and the international community</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;"><strong>-Bangladesh Embassy Washington D.C USA Minister (Political) </strong><br /><strong>(1997-1998)</strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;"><strong></strong>Involved in the process of establishing Bangladesh- US business council Community work relevant to strengthening bilateral ties.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;"><strong>-Consulate General Bangladesh Los Angeles USA, Consul General with the rank and status of Ambassador, </strong><strong>(1998-2000)</strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Involved in relevant community work promotion of trade, organized several Trade Fairs, actively involved in the campaign focused on sending Bangladeshi remittance earned in Los Angeles (through Sonali Exchange) to Bangladesh.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• My special contributions included enhancing the Bangladeshi fishery industry by means of creating a productive market in the West Coast of the United States.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• My tenure in Los Angeles also included vast community interactions particularly with governors and high officials of varying countries of California aimed at strengthening ties between Bangladesh and California.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Involved with the Asiatic Society.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Member of the South Asian Art Council.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Co-founder of the L.A. based Asian group of Consul General.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;"><strong>-Bangladesh Embassy Manila Philippines, Ambassador, </strong><strong>(2000-2002)</strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• During my tenure I had particularly emphasized the importance of trade between the Philippines and Bangladesh. As a result of my efforts, the Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products were registered by the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• I had also organized several Trade Fairs and was involved in processing seven hundred and fifty million dollars of ADB funds and soft loans and grants.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• I was involved in an educational exchange programs between Bangladesh and Philippines.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Worked with the Colombo Plan Staff College as a member of the member Countries.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• I also closely worked with IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) for the promotion of rice research in Bangladesh.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Actively Participated as a member of OIC peace committee to monitor the peace process amidst the Muslim citizens in Mindanao.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Honorary citizen of Baguio.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">PROFESSIONAL TRAINING</span></strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">Foundation training at GOTTA, followed by training at NIPA, trade Courses conducted by EPB and training at the Foreign Service Academy. Also received in service training at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Ministries and Departments. Attended several professional courses in various capitals.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP</span></strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">Rotary member since 1998 (Los Angeles-5) till present (Dhaka Mid-town).<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong></strong></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">OTHER INVOLVEMENTS:</span></strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Family business after retirement on 10th Jun 2007.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Director: Meghna Life Insurance (04/07/2007-25/09/2008).</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Director: Uttara Bank (21/10/2008-11/10/2012).<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong></strong></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">EDUCATION</span></strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">Dhaka University (1966-1970)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Bachelor of Commerce, Honours</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">• Masters of Commerce and Business Administration (Law and Economics minor)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">LANGUAGES</span></strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">Fluent in Bangla and English as well as proficient in Urdu, Hindi, Romanian and Russian</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">ACCREDITATIONS</span></strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">Countless validations made by top official of the international community honoring various contributions made within their country.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong></strong></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">INTERESTS</span></strong></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-small;">Reading and staying on top of national and international affairs particularly pertaining to business, social and global innovations.</span></div><div class="deleteBody"><div class="postBody"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><u>Information Commissioner</u></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #777777;">Mohammad Abu Taher</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #777777;">Secretary (Rtd.) M. A. Taher</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">Educational Qualifications:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">Masters in Commerce (Management) in 1969, University of Dhaka</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">Local Training:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">Foundation Training on Treasury Management, Survey and Settlement; and also on Sustainable Development and Disaster Management, etc.</span><br /><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">Foreign Training:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(a)Managing at the Top (MATT), Organised by the British Civil Service College and the Birmingham University, UK. Financed by the DFID.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(b)Leadership for the next Millennium. Organised by the Queen Victoria University, New Zealand and sponsored by the Common Wealth Secretariat, London.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(c)Seminar on Labour-Management Relations, Nepal. Organised and sponsored by the ILO.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(d)Special Assembly on Hazardous Chemicals, UNEF HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Represented Bangladesh as Leader of the Delegation.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(e)Leader of the Delegation. Aid Negotiations with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila, Philippines.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(f)Forest and Natural Resources Administration And Management. Organized by the Colorado State University, USA. Financed by the World bank.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(g)Diploma on Development Administration. University of Manchester, UK.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(h)Diploma on Economic and Social Studies. University of Manchester, UK.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(i)Specialized Training on Health and Family Planning. JOICFP, JICA, Japan.</span><br /><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">Experience:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(a)Served as the Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh and retired from service in the year 2006.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(b)Joint Secretary (APD), Ministry of Establishment (MOE) and Ministry of Labour and Employment (MOLE). As Joint Secretary (APD) performed the functions of Personnel Management and Human Resources Development and implemented recruitment, transfer and promotion policies of the Government.</span><br /><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">As Joint Secretary, MOLE worked as the catalyst to improve</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">the labour management relations, implemented Labour</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">Policies of the government, assisted in Boosting-up man</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">power export in abroad and to create new horizon in the</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">world labour market. Maintained close relations with ILO.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(c)Divisional Commissioner, Khulna and Chittagong. Co-ordinated Divisional level intra and inter departmental development activities, reviewed the performances, inspect and monitor the offices of the Deputy Commissioners within the jurisdiction. Implemented the policies of the government in the field.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(d)Deputy Secretary (Development), Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF). Used to perform the functions of planning, implementation, co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation, review the progress of development projects of Forests and Environment Directorates; and also keep liaison with the development partners like the World Bank, ADB, UNEP, UNDP, WFP, etc.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(e)Deputy Commissioner, Narayangonj and Pabna. Performed the functions of General Administration, Revenue and Development Administration and the Administration of Criminal Justice; co-ordinated inter departmental development activities in the districts, inspected and supervised the subordinate offices.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(f)Served also as the Director, National Savings Directorate; Settlement Officer, Dhaka; Secretary, Bangladesh Textiles Mills Corporation; Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Chittagong; Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Hobiganj; ADLG & RD and Secretary, Zila Porishad, Mymensingh; Senior Magistrate, Rangpur; and Project Officer, Zero Population Growth (ZPG) Project, Dhaka; and Assist Commissioner, Dhaka.</span><br /><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">Other Experience:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(a)Professor of Commerce, Feni College, Feni.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(b)Assistant Director, Agriculture Marketing Directorate, Bangladesh.</span><br /><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">Country Visited:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">Visited about 25 (Twenty five) countries of Asia, Africa, America, Europe, and Oceania for the purpose of training, and to participate in the seminar, symposium, workshop, study tour and for Aid negotiations.</span><br /><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">Extra Curricular and Social Activities:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(a)Member, UOTC (now BNCC).</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(b)Participated in the War of Liberation as Freedom Fighter.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(c)President, Bangladesh Students Association (1991-1992), University of Manchester, UK.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(d)Secretary General, Comilla Samity, Dhaka for the last 30 (Thirty) years.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(e)President, Divisional Krira Sangstha, Khulna and Chittagong.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(f)President District Krira Sangstha, Narayangonj and Pabna.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(g)President, Khulna Club, Khulna,</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(h)President, Officers’ Club, Pabna.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(i)President, Comilla Kotwali Thana Samity, Dhaka.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(j)Member, Officers’ Club, Dhaka.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;">(k)Member, Executive Committee, Greater Comilla Samity, Dhaka.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #777777; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Information Commissioner</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #777777; font-size: x-small;"> </span></u></div></div><div class="postBody"><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="color: #777777;">Prof. Dr. Sadeka Halim</strong></div><br /><span style="color: #777777; font-size: x-small;">PhD from McGill University Canada as a Commonwealth scholar & Post doctorate with Commonwealth Fellowship from Bath University, UK. MSS and BSS secured First class First & First class Second in the Dept. of Sociology, DU.</span><br /><br /><strong style="color: #777777; font-size: small;">Area of research interest:</strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #777777; font-size: x-small;">Gender Equity, Forestry, Development, Indigenous issues & Right to Information.</span><br /><br /><strong style="color: #777777; font-size: small;">Education: </strong><br /><div><strong style="color: #777777; font-size: small;"><br /></strong></div><br /><strong style="color: #777777; font-size: small;">Experience:</strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #777777; font-size: x-small;">She has been teacher in the Dept. of Sociology, University of Dhaka for last 21 years. She served as guest professor at the BOKU University for Agriculture and Sciences, Vienna, Institute of Forest Sector Policy and Economics to teach on “Social Issues on Mountain Forestry in an International Context”. Also as visiting fellow at the Queens University of Belfast, Ireland under The Higher Education Link Program between Department of Women’s Studies, University of Dhaka and Queen’s University, Belfast. She has published in National & International Journals.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #777777; font-size: x-small;">Dr Sadeka Halim has served as elected Syndicate member in the University of Dhaka. She was also member of Dhaka Teachers Association. She is currently member of Senate in the University of Dhaka. She is executive member of Bangladesh Sociological Association (BSA).</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #777777; font-size: x-small;">She has been researcher/consultant to DFID, UNDP, OXFAM (Canada), OXFAM GB, NORAD, IFAD, SDC, Save the Children UK, Save the Children Sweden Denmark, and USAID. She also has conducted a number of evaluation studies of which “Gender Mainstreaming of Policies of The World Bank, UNDP, FAO and the Line Ministries of GoB” and Needs Assessment and Costing of MDG-3 sponsored by UNDP and GED, Planning Commission, are the prominent among others. Also as among eighteen prominent educationists member of the National Education Policy Committee (2009).</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #777777; font-size: x-small;">She is sitting in several decisions and policy-making bodies at the University of Dhaka and several other public universities in Bangladesh. She also regularly appear’s in the electronic and print media as a resource person on various socio-political issues addressing particularly the interest of women, indigenous peoples, youth and on right to information. She has participated in many international conferences as resource person. She has traveled in almost 40 countries. </span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #777777; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-81603727409251149732011-07-29T04:19:00.000-05:002013-05-07T09:24:51.598-05:00Right to Information Act, 2009, Bangladesh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: purple; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Right to Information Act, 2009</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Act. No. XX of 2009</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An Act</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to make provisions for ensuring free flow of information and people’s right to information.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whereas freedom of thought, conscience and speech is recognized in the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh as one of the fundamental rights and right to information is an inalienable part of freedom of thought, conscience and speech; and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whereas all powers of the Republic belong to the people, and it is necessary to ensure right to information for the empowerment of the people; and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whereas if the right to information of the people is ensured, the transparency and accountability of all public, autonomous and statutory organisations and of other private institutions constituted or run by government</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">or foreign financing shall increase, corruption of the same shall decrease and good governance of the same shall be established; and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whereas it is expedient and necessary to make provisions for ensuring transparency and accountability in all public, autonomous and statutory organisations and in other private institutions constituted or run by government or foreign financing;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">it is hereby enacted as follows :</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Introductory<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. Short title and commencement</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) This Act may be called the Right to Information act, 2009.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) Of this Act</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) all the sections except sections 8, 24 and 25 shall be deemed to have come into force on 20 October, 2008; and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) sections 8, 24 and 25 shall come into force on 1 July, 2009.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. Definitions</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) “Appellate Authority” means</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(i) in case of and information providing unit, the administrative head of its immediate superior office; or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(ii) if there is no superior office of such unit, the administrative head of that unit;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) “Authority” means</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(i) any organization constituted in accordance with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(ii) and ministry, division or office established under the Rules of Business made under article 55(6) of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(iii) any statutory body or institution established by or under any Act;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(iv) any private organisation or institution run by government financing or with aid in grant from the government fund;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(v) any private organisation or institution run by foreign aid in grant;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(vi) any organisation or institution that undertakes public functions in accordance with any contract made on behalf of the Government or made with any public organisation or institution; or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(vii) any organisation or institution as may be notified in the official Gazette from time to time by the Government;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(c) “officer” shall also include and employee;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(d) “information providing unit” means</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(i) head office, divisional office, regional office, district office or upazila office of any department, directorate or office attached to or under any ministry, division or office of the Government;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(ii) head office, divisional office, regional office, district office or upazila office of an authority; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (e) “Information Commission” means the Information Commission established under section 11;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(f) “information” includes any memo, book, design, map, contract, data, log book, order, notification, document, sample, letter, report, accounts, project proposal, photograph, audio, video, drawing, painting, film, any instrument done through electronic process, machine readable record, and any other documentary material<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">regardless of its physical form or characteristics, and any copy thereof in relation to the constitution, structure and official activities of any authority: Provided that it shall not include note-sheets or copies of notesheets;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(g) “right to information” means the right to obtain information from any authority;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(h) “Schedule” means Schedule to this Act;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(i) “third party” means any other party associated with information, other than that applying for information or any authority providing such information;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(j) “officer-in-charge” means any officer appointed under section 10;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(k) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules or regulations;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(l) “regulations” means regulations made under section 34;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(m) “Selection Committee” means the selection committee constituted under section 14;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(n) “rules” means rules made under section 33.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. Act to override</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.—Of any existing law—<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) the provisions of providing information shall not be affected by the provisions of this Act; and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) the provisions of creating inpediment in providing information shall be superseded by the provisions of this Act if they become conflicting with the provisions of this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Right to, Preservation of, Publication of and Access to Information<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. Right to information</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.—Subject to the provisions of this Act, every citizen shall have the right to information from the authority, and the authority shall, on demand from a citizen, be bound to provide him with the information.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. Preservation of information.—(1) In order to ensure right to information under this Act, every authority shall prepare catalogue and index of all information and preserve it in an appropriate manner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) Every authority shall, within a reasonable time-limit, preserve in computer all such information as it thinks fit for preservation in computer, and shall connect them through a country-wide network to facilitate access to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) The Information Commission shall, by regulations, frame instructions to be followed by every authority for the preservation and management of information and all authority shall follow the instructions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. Publication of information</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.—(1) Every authority shall publish and publicise all information pertaining to any decision taken, proceeding or activity executed or proposed by indexing them in such a manner as may easily be accessible to the citizens. (2) In publishing and publicising information under sub-section (1), no authority shall conceal any information or limit its easy access. (3) Every authority shall publish a report every year which shall contain the following information, namely:—<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) particulars of its organisational structure, activities, responsibility of the officers and employees, or description and process of decision making;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) lists of all laws, Acts, Ordinance, rules, regulations, notifications, directives, manuals, etc. of the authority including the classification of all information lying with the authority;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(c) description of the terms and conditions under which a citizen may get services from the authorities in obtaining any license, permit, grant, consent, approval or other benefits and of such conditions that require the authority to make transactions or enter into agreements with him;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(d) particulars of the facilities ensuring right to information of the citizens, and the full name, designation, address, and, in cases where applicable, fax number and e-mail address of the assigned officer.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) If the authority frames any policy or takes any important decision, it shall publish all such policies and decisions and shall, if necessary, explain the reasons and causes in support of such policies and decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(5) The report prepared by authority under this section shall be made available free of charge for public information and its copies shall be stocked for sale at nominal price.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(6) All the publications made by the authority shall be made available to the public at reasonable price.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(7) The authority shall publish and publicise the matters of public interest through press note or through any other means.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(8) The Information Commission shall, by regulations, frame instructions to be followed by the authority for publishing, publicising and obtaining information and all the authority shall follow them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7. Publication of or providing with certain types of information not mandatory</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.—Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, no authority shall be bound to provide with the following information,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">namely—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) any such information that may, if disclosed, cause a threat to the security, integrity and sovereignty of Bangladesh;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) any such information relating to any aspect of foreign policy that may affect the existing relationship with any foreign country or international organisation or any regional alliance or organization;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(c) any secret information received from a foreign government;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(d) any information relating to inherent secrets of commercial or business nature, copyright or intellectual property right that may, if published, affect the intellectual property right of a third party.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(e) any of the following information that may, if disclosed, be gainful or damaging to any particular individual or organization, namely :</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(i) any advance information about income tax, customs, VAT and law relating to excise duty, budget or change in the tax rate;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(ii) any advance information about changes relating to exchange rate and interest rate; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(iii) any advance information about the management and supervision of the financial institutions including banks;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(f) any such information that may, if disclosed, obstruct the enforcement of law or incite any offence;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(g) any such information that may, if disclosed, endanger the security of public or impede the due judicial process of a pending case;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(h) any such information that may, if disclosed, offend the privacy of the personal life of an individual;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(i) any such information that may, if disclosed, endanger the life or physical safety of any person;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(j) any such information given in confidence to any law enforcement agency by a person;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(k) any matter pending before any court of law and which has been expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(l) any such information that may, if disclosed, impede the process of investigation;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(m) any such information that may, if disclosed, affect any investigation process of offence and the arrest and prosecution of offender;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(n) any such information which is, according to law, liable to be published only for a certain period of time;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(o) any such information that is generated through technical or scientific experiment, and is expedient to keep secret for strategic or commercial reasons;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(p) any such information pertaining to a purchase process before it is complete or a decision has been taken about it;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(q) any such information that may be prejudicial to the special rights of the House of the Nation;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(r) any secret information of a person which is protected by law;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(s) any advance, information relating to question papers of an examination or marks given;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(t) any document including summaries to be placed before the Cabinet or, as the case may be, before the Council of Advisers and information relating to discussions and decisions of such meetings :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Provided that after taking any decision by the Cabinet or, as the case may be, by the Council of Advisors, the reasons of taking such decisions and the basis upon which the decisions are taken may be disclosed :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Provided further that the concern authority shall take prior approval from Information Commission for withholding information under this section;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8. Request for Information</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) Under this Act a person may apply to the officer-in-charge requesting for information either in writing or through electronic means or through e-mail.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) The request made under sub-section (1) shall include the following information, namely :</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(i) name, address of the person making request, in applicable cases, his fax number and email address;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(ii) correct and clear description of the information sought for;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(iii) other related information so that the location of the information sought for may be easily found out;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(iv) description of the modes how he wants to have the information, that is making inspection, having copy, taking note or any other approved method.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) The request for information under this section shall be made in a form printed by the authority, or as the case may be, in prescribed format :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Provided that if the form is not printed or is not easily available or if the format has not yet been prescribed, request may be made for information by inserting information mentioned in sub-section (2) on a piece of white paper, or in electronic form or through e-mail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) In the case of obtaining information under sub-section (1), the person making the request shall pay reasonable fees as may be prescribed by the officer-in-charge for such information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(5) The Government may, in consultation with the Information Commission, fix the fees for having any information by notification in the official Gazette, and, if necessary, may fix the price of information, or as the case may be, may exempt an individual or a class of individuals or any other class from paying such price.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(6) Every authority shall prepare and publicise a list of information to be supplied free of cost upon an instruction of the Information Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9. Procedure for providing information</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) The designated officer shall, on receipt of a request under sub-section (1) of section 8, provide the information to the applicant within 20 (twenty) working days from the date of receiving the request.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), if more than one unit or authority are involved with the information sought for, such information may be provided within 30 (thirty) working days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) Despite anything contained in sub-section (1) and (2), if the officer-incharge, due to any reason, fails to provide the information sought for, he shall inform the applicant the reasons thereof in writing within 10 (ten) working days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) and (2), if a request made under sub-section (1) of section 8 is relating to the life and death, arrest and release from jail of any person, the officer-in-charge shall provide preliminary information thereof within 24 (twenty-four) hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(5) Where the officer-in-charge fails to provide information within the timeframe as mentioned in sub-section (1), (2) or (4), it shall be presumed that the request for information has been rejected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(6) When any information sought for is available with the officer-in-charge, he shall determine a reasonable price of that information and shall request the applicant to pay the price within 5(five) working days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(7) For determining the price under sub-section (6), the price shall not exceed the actual expense of providing information such as cost of printing electronic format or photocopying or print-out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(8) Where an officer-in-charge thinks that the request made for information under sub-section (1) of section 8 is appropriate, and such information has been supplied by a third party or a third party’s interest is involved in it and the third party has considered it as secret information, the officer-in-charge shall cause a notice to be served upon the third party within 5(five) working days for written or oral opinion, and if the third party gives any opinion in response to such notice, the officer-in-charge shall take into consideration such opinion and make a decision in respect of providing information to the applicant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(9) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 7, no request for information may be totally rejected on the ground that it is associated with information that is not mandatory for publication, and the portion of the requested information which in not mandatory for publication and is reasonably separable form the portion shall be provided to the applicant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(10) Where access to the record or a part thereof is required to be provided to a perceptual handicapped, the officer-in-charge shall provide assistance to him to enable him to access such information and such assistance shall deem to include any assistance which is required for such inspection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 3<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Designated Officer<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10. Designated Officer</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) Within 60 (sixty) days after commencement of this Act, all authorities existing prior to such commencement shall appoint a designated officer for each of the units for providing information according to the provisions of this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) Any authority established after the commencement of this Act shall, within 60 (sixty) days after such establishment, appoint a designated officer for each of the units for providing information according to the provisions of this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) If any authority establish any office after the commencement of this Act, it shall, within 60(sixty) days of such establishment, appoint a designated officer for each of the units for providing information according to the provisions of this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) All authorities shall inform the information Commission the names, designation, address and, in case where applicable, fax number and e-mail addresses of the designated officers appointed under sub-section (1), (2) and (3) within 15(fifteen) working days from the date of such appointment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(5) A designated officer discharging his duty under this Act may seek assistance from any other officer and the officer whose assistance is sought shall be bound to extend necessary help to the officer-in-charge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(6) If a designted officer seeks support from other officer under sub-section<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(5) and any provision of this Act is contravened due to failure of giving such<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">assistance, then such other officer shall also be deemed to be the officer-incharge<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">for determining the liability under this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 4<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Establishment of Information Commission, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11. Establishment of Information Commission</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) After the commencement of this Act, a commission to be known as the Information commission shall be established for carrying out the purposes of this Act and in accordance with its provisions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) The Information Commission shall be an independent body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and shall by its own name sue and be sued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) The head office of the Information Commission shall be at Dhaka and the Commission may, if necessary, establish branch offices anywhere in Bangladesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12. Constitution of the Commission</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) The Commission shall consist of the Chief Information Commissioner and 2(two) other Commissioners, at least 1 (one) of whom shall be a woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) The Chief Information Commissioner shall be the Chief Executive of the Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) No act or proceeding of the Commission shall be invalid merely on the ground of existence of any vacancy in, or any defect in the Constitution of the Information Commission and no question shall be raised in this regard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13. Powers and functions of the Information Commission</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) If any person files a complaint regarding any one of the following reasons, the Information Commission shall, subject to the provision of this Act, receive, inquire into and dispose of such complaint, namely:</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) non-appointment of an officer-in-charge by any authority, or its refusal to accept a request for information ;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) refusal of any request for information;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(c) a request for information has been left unattended of no information received within the time-limit specified under this Act;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(d) if the applicant is asked for a fee or compelled to pay an amount of fee which he considers to be unreasonable;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(e) if the applicant is provided with incomplete information or such information that appears to be misleading or false; and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(f) any other matter relating to requesting or obtaining information under this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) The Information Commission may, on its own accord or upon a complaint, conduct an inquiry regarding the complaint raised under this Act.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) The Information Commission, or as the case may be, the Chief Information Commissioner or Information Commissioners, may exercise such powers as a civil court may exercise under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908) in respect of the following matters, namely :</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) to issue summons to enforce the attendance of persons and compel them to give oral or written evidence on oath and to produce the documents or other things;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) to examine and inspect information;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(c) to receive evidence on affidavit;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(d) to bring in any information from any office;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(e) to issue summons for witnesses or documents; and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(f) any other matter prescribed by rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) Notwithstanding anything contained contrary in any other law, while inquiring after a complaint under this Act, the Information Commission or, as the case may be, the Chief Information Commissioner or the Information Commissioners may examine on spot any information relating to the complaint kept in the custody of any authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(5) The Functions of the Information Commission shall be as follows namely :</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) to issue directives for the preservation, management, publication, publicity of and access to information by authority;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) to prescribe the procedure for applying for information from the authority and, as the case may be, to fix appropriate price of information;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(c) to formulate guidelines and directives as to the preservation and implementation of the right to information of the citizens;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (d) to consider the provisions recognized under the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh or any other law for the time being in force in order to preserve the right to information and recommend to the Government for their effective implementation by indicating the impediments;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(e) to identify the impediments against the preservation and implementation of right to information of the citizens and recommend to the Government for appropriate solution;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(f) to conduct research on the agreements relating to the right to information and other international instruments and to recommend to the Government for their implementation;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(g) to examine the similarities of the prevailing law relating to the maintenance and implementation of the right to information of the citizens and to make necessary recommendation to the Government or, as the case may be, to the appropriate authority in order to ensure their harmonization with the international instruments;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(h) to advise the Government to ratify or sign any international instrument on right to information;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(i) to conduct research on preservation and implementation of the right to information and to assist the educational and professional institution for conducting such research;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(j) to publicize the issues relating to the preservation and implementation of the right to information among different classes of citizens of the society and to increase their awareness about the right to information by publishing, disseminating or any other<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">means;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(k) to advise and provide assistance to the Government in order to make necessary laws and administrative directives for preservation and implementation of right to information;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(l) to advise and provide assistance to the organizations or institutions working for the preservation and implementation of the right to information and to citizens in general;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(m) to increase public awareness on right to information by conducting research, seminars, symposiums, workshops and similar other measures and disseminate the result obtained from the research;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(n) to give the authority technical and other assistance with a view to ensuring right to information;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(o) to establish a web portal for Bangladesh to ensure right to information;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(p) to oversee the actions taken under any other law relating to the preservation and implementation of the right to information;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14. Selection Committee</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) A selection committee shall consist of the following 5 (five) members with a view to providing recommendation for the appointment of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners, namely :</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) a judge of the Appellate Division, nominated by the Chief Justice, who shall also be its Chairman;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) the Cabinet Secretary of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(c) one member from the ruling party and one from the opposition, nominated by the Speaker while the Parliament is in session;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(d) one representative nominated by the Government from among the persons involved in the profession of journalism holding a post equivalent to the editor or a prominent member of the society related to mass communication.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) The Ministry of Information shall provide necessary secretarial<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">assistance to constitute the selection committee under sub-section (1) and to carry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">out the functions of such selection committee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) The presence of at least 3 (three) members shall constitute the quorum of the selection committee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) In order to appoint the Chief Information Commissioner and the Information Commissioners, the selection committee shall, on the basis of the decision of the majority members present at the meeting, recommend 2 (two) names against each vacant post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (5) In the event of equality of votes in the selection committee, the Chairman shall have right to a second or a casting vote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(6) The selection committee shall prescribe the procedure of its meetings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(7) No act or proceeding of the selection committee shall be invalid merely on the ground of existence of any vacancy in or any defect in the constitution of the committee and no question shall be raised in this regard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">15. Appointment, tenure, resignation etc. of the Chief Information Commissioner and other Commissioners</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) The President shall, on the recommendation of the selection committee, appoint the Chief Information Commissioner and other Information Commissioners.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) The Chief Information Commissioner or other Information Commissioners shall not be eligible to be appointed or hold office after he has attained the age of 67 (sixty-seven) years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) The Chief Information Commissioner and other Information Commissioners shall hold office for a term of 5 (five) years from the date of appointment or till he attains the age of 67 (sixty-seven) years, whichever is earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) The Chief Information Commissioner or other Information Commissioners shall not be eligible for reappointment for the same post, but an Information Commissioner shall not be ineligible for appointment to the post of Chief Information Commissioner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(5) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Chief Information Commissioner and the Information Commissioners Shall be appointed from amongst the persons with broad knowledge and experience in law, Justice, Journalism, education, science, technology, information, social service, management, or public administration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(6) The Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioners may, at any time, resign from his office by writing under his hand addressed to the President.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(7) If the office of the Chief Information Commissioner becomes vacant or if the Chief Information Commissioner is on account of absence, illness or any other cause unable to perform the functions of his office the senior-most Information Commissioner shall perform the functions of the Chief Information Commissioner until a newly appointed Chief Information Commissioner has entered upon that office or until the Chief Information Commissioner has been able to resume his own duties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16. Removal of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Commissioners.</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) The Chief Information Commissioner and any Information Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the President may remove the Chief Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner from their respective offices, if he</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) is declared by a competent court to be insolvent;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) engages himself in any post extraneous to his own duties during his term of office for remuneration;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(c) is declared by a competent court to be of unsound mind;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(d) is convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">17. Ranks, remuneration, allowances and other facilities of the Information Commissioners</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The rank, remuneration, allowances and other facilities of the Chief Information Commissioner and the Information Commissioners shall be determined by the Government.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">18. Meetings of the Commission</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the commission shall determine the procedure of its meetings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) The Chief Information Commissioner shall preside over all the meetings of the Commission and in the case of his absence, the senior-most Information Commissioner shall preside over the meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) The Presence of the Chief Information Commissioner and any 1 (one) of the Information Commissioners shall constitute the quorum of a meeting of the Information Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) The Chief Information Commissioner and other Information Commissioners shall have one vote each in taking decision of the meeting of the commission and in the event of equality of votes, the person presiding over the meeting shall have the right to a second or casting vote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 5<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Financial matters of the Information Commission<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">19. Information Commission Fund</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) There shall be a fund to be called the Information Commission fund to carry out the purposes of this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) The management and administration of the Information Commission Fund shall, subject to this section and the provisions of the rules make there under, be vested in the Information Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) The salaries and allowances of the Chief Information Commission, the Information Commissioners, the Secretary and other employees of the Commission shall be paid from the fund in accordance with the terms and conditions of their service, and other expenses of the Information Commission shall also be disbursed from this fund.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">(4) The following money shall be deposited to the fund, namely :</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) annual grants provided by the Government;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) grants provided by any institution with the approval of the Government.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20. Budget</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Information Commission shall, within the time fixed by the Government, submit an annual budget to the Government for the next financial year in appropriate form specified in this behalf by the Government for approval and shall mention therein how much money it may require from the Government for such financial year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">21. Financial independence of the Information Commission</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) The<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Government shall, after due consideration of the Information commission’s requisition, allocate specified amount of money to defray its expenses and the Information Commission need not to take the previous approval of the Government to spend the money allocated against the approved and prescribed heads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to have prejudiced the rights of the Comptroller and Auditor General as mentioned in article 128 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">22. Accounts and audit</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) The Commission shall maintain its accounts properly and prepare an annual statement of its accounts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) The Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh, hereinafter referred to as the Auditor General, shall audit the accounts of the Commission every year and shall submit a copy of the audit report to the Government with a copy thereof to the Information Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) In order to conduct the audit in accordance with sub-section (2), the Auditor General or any person empowered by him in this behalf shall have access to all records, documents and papers, cash or money kept in the bank, undertakings, treasury and other property and may examine the Chief Information Commission, the Information Commissioners or any officer or employee of the Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 6<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Officers and Employees of Information Commission<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">23. The Secretary and other officers and employees of the Information</span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Commission</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) There shall be a Secretary of the Information Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) The Commission may, subject to the prior approval of the Government by determining the organizational organograme appoint such number of officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient performance of its functions under this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) The salaries, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the Secretary and other officers and employees shall be determined by the Government.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) The Government may, upon request from the Information Commission, appoint any officer or employee of the Republic on deputation to the Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Appeal, Complaint, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">24. Disposal of appeal, etc</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) If Any person fails to receive information within the time specified in sub-section (1), (2) and (4) of section 9 or is aggrieved by a decision of the officer-in-charge may, within 30 (thirty) days from the expiry of such period or, as the case may be, from the receipt of such a decision, prefer an appeal to the appellate authority.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) If the appellate authority is satisfied that the appellant has failed to prefer an appeal within the time-limit as mentioned in sub-section (1) for any reasonable ground, it may accept the appeal even after the expiry of that time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) The appellate authority shall within 15 (fifteen) days of the receipt of the appeal under sub-section (1) or (2)</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) direct the concerned officer-in-charge to supply the appellant the requested information; and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) dismiss the appeal if it is not considered fit for acceptance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) The officer-in-charge on being directed to supply information under sub-section (3) shall, within the time specified in sub-section (1), (2) or, as the case may be, (4) of section 9, provide the appellant with the requested information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">25. Making of Complaint, disposal, etc</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (1) A person may lodge a complaint to the Information Commission for any of the following reasons namely :</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) if he gets no information under sub-section (1) of section 13;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) if he is aggrieved by the decision on his appeal under section 24;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(c) if he gets no information within the time-limit mentioned in section 24 or, as the case may be, gets no decision about providing information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) A complaint may be lodged to the Information Commission at any time in respect of any matter mentioned in clause (a) of sub-section (1), and within 30 (thirty) days from the date of such decision or, as the case may be, the date of exceeding the time-limit in respect of any matter mentioned in clause (b) and (c) of sub-section (1).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) If the Information Commission is satisfied that the complainant, for any reasonable cause, fails to lodge a complaint within the time limit as mentioned in sub-section (2), it may accept the appeal even after the expiry of that time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) If the Information Commission is satisfied upon an complaint or other wise that any authority or, as the case may be, any officer-in-charge has failed to do an act or has done an act that was not necessary to do in accordance with the provisions of this Act, it may take action against such authority or, as the case may be, such officer-in-charge under this section.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(5) On receipt of a complaint under sub-section (1) or if it is required to take an action under sub-section (4), the Chief Information Commissioner himself shall enquire into the complaint or delegate the duty to any other information Commissioner to enquire into the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(6) The Chief Information Commission or, as case may be, the Information Commissioner, within 30 (thirty) days from the date of taking or receiving duty under sub-section (5), shall, after completing the enquiry into the complaint, prepare a decision-paper for the Information Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(7) The decision-paper mentioned in sub-section (6) shall be presented in the next meeting of the Information Commission, and it shall, on discussion in the meeting, take decision regarding the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(8) During the enquiry into any complaint under this section, the authority or, as the case may be, the officer-in-charge against whose decision the complaint is lodged, shall be given an opportunity to present arguments in support of his decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(9) If a third party is involved in the complaint, the Commission shall also give such third party an opportunity to present his statements.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(10) The Information Commission shall, in general, dispose of any complaint made under sub-section (1) within 45 (forty five) days of receiving such complaint, but, in special cases, if it requires extended time to complete the enquiry and depositions of the witnesses, the complaint may be disposed of within such extended time :</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Provide that the time limit of disposing of a complaint shall not, in any way exceed more than 75 (seventy five) days inclusive of extended time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(11) At the time of taking decision under this section, the Information Commission shall have the following powers namely :</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) to direct the authority or, as the case may be, the officer-in-charge to take the following steps which are necessary to take under the provisions of this Act, namely :</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(i) to provide the requested information in a specific manner;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(ii) to appoint an officer-in-charge;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(iii) to publish any special information or special class of information;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(iv) to being changes in the procedures to be followed by the authority in respect of preservation, management or publication of information;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(v) to impart better training on right to information to the officers of the authority;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(vi) to give compensation for any loss or damage;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) to impose fines under this Act;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(c) to keep the decision of the authority in force;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(d) to reject any complaint;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(e) to classify the information newly by the authority;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(f) to interpret any matters relating to the nature, classification, preservation, publication, supply of information in the light of this Act.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">(12) Any decision passed under this section by the Information Commission shall be binding upon all concerned.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(13) The Information Commission shall inform its decision to all concerned in writing.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(14) The Information Commission shall take other steps in disposing of a complaint in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">26. Representation</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The parties to a complaint may present their statements before the Commission either personally or through a lawyer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">27. Fines, etc</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) With reference to the disposal of any complaint or otherwise, if the Information Commission has reasons to believe that an officer-in-charge</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) has refused to receive any request for information or an appeal without assigning any reasons;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) has failed to provide information to the applicant or to make decision within the time-limit determined by the Act;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(c) has refused to receive a request or an appeal with mala fide intention;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(d) has provided wrong, incomplete, confusing and distorted information in place of the information that was sought for;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(e) has created impediments in receiving information;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">then, the Information Commission may impose fine for per day 50 (fifty) taka from the date of doing such action by the officer-incharge to the date of providing information, and such fine shall not, in any way, exceed more than 5000 (five thousand) taka.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) The Information Commission shall, before imposing any fine under subsection(1), give the officer-in-charge an opportunity of hearing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) If the Information Commission is satisfied that the officer-in-charge has created impediments in getting information of any citizen by any act under subsection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1), than, it may, in addition to imposing fine under sub-section (2), recommend the concerned authority to take departmental action against the officer, treating his such act to be a misconduct, and may request the authority to inform the Information Commission about the action taken last in respect of this matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) If any fine or compensation payable under this Act is not paid, it may be recoverable from the concerned officer through such procedures as are applicable<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">for the recovery of a land revenue in accordance with the provisions of Public Demands Recovery Act, 1913 (Act IX of 1913).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">28. Application of the Limitation Act, 1908</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Subject to the provisions of this Act, the provisions of the Limitation Act, 1908 (Act IX of 1908) shall, as far as possible, apply in the case of preferring an appeal or lodging a complaint under this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">29. Bar against filing suit</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No person shall, except preferring an appeal before an appellate authority or, as the case may be, lodging a complaint before the Information Commission under this Act, raise any question before any court for anything done or deemed to be done, any action taken or the legality of any order passed or any instruction made under this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 8<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Miscellaneous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">30. Annual Report of the Information Commission</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) The Information Commission shall, by 31 March of every year, furnish an annual report of its functions performed during the previous year to the president.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) In the report mentioned in sub-section (1), the following information shall be included, namely :</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">⎯</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) the number of requests for information made to each authority;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b) the number of decisions for refusing requests for information to the applicants, and description of the provisions of this Act under which these decisions were taken;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(c) the number of appeals preferred against the decisions of the officer-in-charge, and the result thereof;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(d) particulars of any disciplinary action taken against any officer by any authority;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(e) the amount of money collected by each authority under the Act;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(f) description of different activities taken by the authorities in implementing the provisions of this Act;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(g) reform proposals received from different authorities relating to ensuring right to information of the citizens;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(h) number of complaints received by the Information Commission;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(i) description of the actions taken by the Information Commission in respect of the complaint received;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(j) number of officers punished by the Information Commission and description of such punishments;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(k) total amount of fine imposed and recovered by the Information Commission;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(l) description of the regulations made and instructions issued by the Information Commission;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(m) accounts of incomes and expenditures of the Information Commission;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(n) any other related matters that the Information Commission thinks necessary to be included;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(o) specific recommendations to take actions against those authorities that appear to be unwilling to follow the provisions of this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) After receiving the report under sub-section (1), the President shall cause the report to be laid before the Parliament.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) The Information Commission shall publish and publicize its annual report submitted to the President under sub-section (1) on the mass media and website.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(5) For preparing the report under this section, every authority shall give other related assistance to the Information Commission along with providing necessary information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">31. Protection of action taken in good faith</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No, suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the Information Commission, the Chief Information Commissioner, the Information Commissioners or any officers or employee of the Information Commission, or officer-in-charge of any authority or any other officer or employee there of it any body is affected by any information made public or deemed to be made public in good faith under this Act, or rules or regulations made there under.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">32. Inapplicability of this Act in case of certain organisations and institutions</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any provisions of this Act, this Act shall not apply to the organisations and institutions which are involved in state security and intelligence mentioned in the Schedule.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), this section shall not apply to such information that are pertaining to corruption and violation of human rights in the above-mentioned organisations and institutions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) On receipt of any request for information under sub-section (2), the concerned organisation or institution shall, subject to the approval of the Information Commission, provide the applicant with the requested information within 30 (thirty) days from the date of receipt of such request.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(4) The Government if necessary may, in consultation with the Information Commission, amend the Schedule increasing or decreasing the number of organisations and institutions mentioned in the Schedule by a notification published in the official Gazette from time to time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">33. Power to make rules</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For the purposes of this Act, the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules in consultation with information commission.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">34. Power to make regulations</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For the purposes of this Act, the Information Commission may, with the prior approval of the Government and by notification in the official Gazette, make regulations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">35. Removal of ambiguity</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If any ambiguity arises in implementing any provisions of this Act, the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette and subject to consistency with the provisions of this Act, remove such ambiguity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">36. Original and English Text</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Original Text of this Act shall be in Bangla and there shall be an authentic text of an authorised translation of it in English : Provided that in the event of conflict between the Bangla and the English text, the Bangla text shall prevail.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">37. Repeal and savings</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) The Right to Information Ordinance, 2008 (Ord. No. L of 2008) is hereby repealed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, any act done or any measures taken under the Ordinance shall be deemed to have been done or taken under this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SCHEDULE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Vide section 32)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">State security and intelligence agencies established by the Government.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Serial N0. </span></u></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b><u>Organisations or Institutions</u> </b> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"> 1. National Security Intelligence (NSI).</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"> 2. Directorate General Forces Intelligence (DGFI).</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 3. Defence Intelligence Units .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 4. Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Bangladesh Police.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 5. Special Security Force (SSF).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 6. Intelligence Cell of the National Board of Revenue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 7. Special Branch, Bangladesh Police.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 8. Intelligence Cell of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-35533520815484991362011-07-28T04:31:00.000-05:002013-05-07T09:04:29.055-05:00THE FIRST FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.5pt;">His Majesty’s Gracious Ordinance Relating to Freedom of
Writing and of the Press (1766)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Translated by Peter Hogg</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Issued in Stockholm, in
the Council Chamber, on 2 December 1766.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Printed at the Royal
Printing-Press.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We Adolphus Frederick by
the Grace of God King of Sweden, Gothland and Wenden etc. etc. Heir to Norway
and Duke of SchleswigHolstein, etc. etc. Proclaim,</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">That, having considered
the great advantages that flow to the public from a lawful freedom of writing
and of the press, and whereas an unrestricted mutual enlightenment in
various useful subjects not only promotes the development and
dissemination of sciences and useful crafts but also offers greater
opportunities to each of Our loyal subjects to gain improved knowledge and
appreciation of a wisely ordered system of government; while this freedom
should also be regarded as one of the best means of improving morality and
promoting obedience to the laws, when abuses and illegalities are revealed
to the public through the press; We have graciously decided that the
regulations issued previously on this matter require such appropriate
amendment and improvement that all ambiguity, as well as any such coerciveness
as is incompatible with their intended purpose, may be removed. In regard
to which, and having received the loyal report of the Estates of the Realm
on this matter, We have graciously decided that the previously established
office of Censor shall be entirely abolished and that it shall not
hereafter be the duty of the Chancellery to supervise, approve or disallow
the texts submitted for printing, but the authors themselves shall be
responsible, together with the printers, for what will appear in
print, subsequent to this gracious ordinance, by which the former
censorship<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">regulations are entirely
repealed; although, with regard to the importaAnders Chydenius took an active
part in the Diet of 1765-66. One of the lasting results of his activities
was this Ordinance on Freedom of Writing and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of the Press (1766),
which he considered himself to be one of his
greatest achievements. tion and sale in the bookshops of harmful
books, the supervision of that will remain with Our Chancellery and the
respective consistories, whose obligation it is to ensure that no banned
and corrupting books, whether on theological or other subjects, may be
disseminated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§1. No one shall
be permitted to write or publish in print anything that is contrary to the
confession of Our true faith and the pure Evangelical doctrine; whoever is
convicted thereof shall be fined three hundred daler<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in silver
coin. Should the text contain blasphemy against God, it shall be
judged according to statute law. And in order the more effectively
to prevent the insinuation of heretical doctrines, all manuscripts that in
any way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">concern doctrine and our
fundamental Christian articles of faith shall be inspected by the nearest
consistory, and no printer shall venture, on pain of a fine of two hundred
daler in silver coin, to issue such publications in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">print without written
permission from the consistory, which shall also be printed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§2. It is the
irrevocable fundamental law of the Swedish Realm that there shall be a
King: He and none other shall govern His Realm with and not without,
even less contrary to, the advice of the Council of State, in accordance
with the laws approved and established by the Estates, and after Him His
direct male heirs in the manner laid down in the Act of Settlement adopted
in 17 by the Estates of the Realm; that no other authority shall be
permitted to introduce and amend laws than the legitimately assembled
Estates of the Realm, pursuant to their authority as Parliamentary
delegates; that the privileges of any estate may not be touched upon or
altered without the unanimous agreement of all four estates; no new taxes
and imposts be laid upon the kingdom without the knowledge, free will and
assent of the Estates of the Realm, without which, likewise, neither
may war be declared nor the official coinage, in respect of its quality,
be improved or impaired; in addition to which the Councillors of State are
always individually accountable to the Estates for the advice that they
give to His Majesty, as also government officials for the performance of
their duties. These fundamental laws, with others that the Estates of the
Realm have established or will establish as irrevocable, no one shall
venture in any way to assail or question by means of publications or
printed material, on pain of a fine of three hundred daler in silver coin.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§3 . Should
anyone dare to include vituperative or disparaging opinions of Us and of
Our Royal House in published writings or to make such imputations against any
of the Councillors of the King and the Realm that<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">concern their honour or
are otherwise defamatory, he shall be judged by statute law. Should
anyone similarly offend in the aforesaid manner against the Estates of the
Realm, he shall, according to the greater or lesser seriousness of the offence,
either be condemned to death or be punished with some other severe
physical penalty. Should anyone write a libel, or what may otherwise be
insulting or disparaging, against the officials of the realm or any other
citizen, he shall incur the penalty laid down in statute law. Nor
shall it be permitted for<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">anyone to indulge in
abusive statements in public writings about crowned heads or their closest
blood relatives and contemporary ruling authorities; nor to write or publish in
print anything by which a manifest vice is<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">promoted or justified
and is thus incompatible with decency, a just natural and Christian ethics
and its principles; whoever offends against this shall be liable to a fine
of three hundred daler in silver coin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§4 . The printer
shall display the name of the author on the title-page, unless the latter
wishes to remain anonymous, which should not be denied him, in which case the
printer, for his own protection, shall obtain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">from him a written
acknowledgement that he has written the publication; notwithstanding which,
whether or not the publication lacks the name of the author, the name of
the printer himself and that of the town where the printing has
taken place, as well as the date, should always be displayed on it; if
the printer neglects to do so, he shall pay a fine of two hundred
daler in silver coin. If the publication lacks the name of the author and
the printer, were it to be prosecuted, is demonstrably unwilling to reveal
it, he himself shall bear the entire responsibility that the author of the
publication should have borne; but if he is willing to name the author, he
shall be freed from all responsibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Of everything that is
printed the printer shall be obliged, in the established manner, to deliver six
copies, as soon as they have been printed, of which Our and the Kingdom’s
Chancellery, the State Archives, Our<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Library and all three
universities in the kingdom shall each receive one copy; should the
printer neglect to do so, he shall pay a fine of one hundred daler in silver
coin; and in order that offences against this gracious<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ordinance may be duly
prosecuted, it shall not only be the duty of Our Chancellor of Justice and
the respective ombudsmen and public prosecutors to maintain close supervision
over this matter and bring offenders to lawful conviction; but We also
wish to permit every loyal subject of Ours to have the right to act as
plaintiff in cases concerning offences against this ordinance, which shall
always be pursued in a proper manner before the appropriate court,
following a lawful summons, allowing both parties to enjoy their lawful
procedural rights; and the judge shall likewise, at the very outset of the
trial, examine whether there may be grounds for impounding all available
copies of the prosecuted publication and placing them in safe custody
until the conclusion of the case; if the publication is eventually deemed
harmful and banned, all copies should be confiscated and destroyed.
If the plaintiff, on the other hand, is found to have brought the
action without sufficient reason, he shall face the same penalty that the
accused would have undergone, had he been found guilty, and shall in
addition be liable for all costs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§5 . What
We have thus expressly decreed in the first three paragraphs concerning
that which shall be deemed to be prohibited in writing and in print no one
may in any manner cite or interpret beyond its literal wording, but everything
that is not clearly contrary to that is to be regarded as legitimate to
write and print, in whatever language or in whatever style it may be
written, whether on theological topics, ethics, history or any<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of the learned sciences,
concerning the public or private economy, the activities of government
departments and officials, societies and associations, commerce, trades,
handicrafts and arts, miscellaneous information<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and inventions and so
forth that may be of utility and enlightenment to the public; as also no
one shall be denied the right to publish treatises concerning the public
law of the realm and matters connected with it, in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">which everyone, provided
that the publication in no way offends against the irrevocable foundations
of the political constitution referred to in the second paragraph above,
shall have unrestricted freedom to present<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">their thoughts on all
matters that concern both the rights and duties of the citizens and may
serve to produce some improvement or the prevention of harmful consequences;
which freedom shall also extend generally<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to all laws and
regulations that have already been promulgated or will be promulgated
hereafter. It shall also in equal measure be permitted to write and print
material concerning the relations of the kingdom with other powers and
the advantage or harmfulness of former or more recent alliances, or
statements made regarding them; in which regard all treaties concluded
with foreign powers may likewise be printed, although not any part of
them that should remain secret; even less shall the right be denied to
produce and have printed any accounts of the civil constitutions of other
nations, their advantages, intentions, commerce and economy, strengths
and weaknesses, character and customs, achievements and mistakes, whether<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">specifically or
comparatively.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§6. This freedom
of the press will further include all exchanges of correspondence, species
facti, documents, protocols, judgments and awards, whether they were
produced in the past or will be initiated, maintained,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">presented, conducted and
issued hereafter, before, during and after proceedings before lower courts,
appeal and superior courts and government departments, our senior
administrators and consistories or other public<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">bodies, and without
distinction between the nature of the cases, whether these are civil,
criminal or ecclesiastical or otherwise in some degree concern religious
controversies; as well as older and more recent appeals and expositions,
declarations and counter-declarations that have been or will be submitted
to the Chambers of Our Supreme Court as well as the official
correspondence and memorials that have already been or may in future be
issued from the Office of the Chancellor of Justice; although no one may
be obliged to obtain and print more of all this, either in extensoor abridged
as a species facti, than he himself requests and regards as adequate and which,
when requested, shall immediately be issued to anyone who applies for
them, on penalty of the provisions in the following paragraph; but in criminal
cases that have been settled by an amicable reconciliation between private
individuals no one may, without the agreement of the parties, make use of
this freedom as long as they remain alive; while also, if anything
concerning grave and unfamiliar misdeeds and abominations, blasphemies against
God and the Head of State, evil and cunning schemes in these and other
serious criminal cases, superstitions and other such matters should appear
in court proceedings or judgments, they shall be completely excluded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§7. Whereas a
legally correct votum does not have to be concealed in cases where a
decision is arrived at only by the vote of the judge; and as an impartial
judge has no need to fear people when he has a clear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">conscience, while he
will, on the contrary, be pleased if his impartiality becomes apparent and
his honour is thereby simultaneously protected from both suspicions and
pejorative opinions; We have therefore, in order<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to prevent the several
kinds of hazardous consequences that may follow from imprudent votes,
likewise graciously decided that they shall no longer be protected
behind an anonymity that is no less injurious than<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">unnecessary; for which
reason when anyone, whether he is a party to the case or not, announces
his wish to print older or more recent voting records in cases where
votes have occurred, they shall, as soon as a judgment or verdict has been
given in the matter, immediately be released for a fee, when for each
votum the full name of each voting member shouldalso be clearly set out, whether
it be in the lower courts or the appeal and superior courts, government
departments, executory authorities, consistories or other public bodies, and
that on pain of the loss of office for whosoever refuses to do so or to
any degree obstructs it; in consequence of which the oath of secrecy will
in future be amended and corrected in this regard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§8. Concerning
the votes of the members of the Council of State, apart from cases that
concern secret ministerial matters, as well as reports and statements on
those applications and appeals that will be or have been submitted to the
Estates of the Realm, the law shall, on the same grounds and in the same
manner as in the preceding paragraph, be the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§9. In addition
to the records of trials and other matters referred to above, everyone who
has a case or other proceedings touching his rights before any court or
public body whatsoever, as also before Ourselves, the Estates of the
Realm, their select committees and standing committees, shall be free to
print an account of it or a so-called species facti, together with those
documents relating to it that he regards as necessary to him;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">although he should in
this matter keep to the truth, should he be concerned to avoid the liabilities
prescribed in law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§10. The printing
shall moreover be permitted of all the judgments and awards, decisions,
rescripts, instructions, rules, regulations and privileges, with more of
the same of whatever kind and nature they may be that have been issued in
the past or will be issued in future from Our Council Chamber and
Chancellery, government departments or offices, as well as the appeal and
superior courts and the official boards of the realm, together with the public
correspondence of their and other officials; also included among which are all
memorials, applications, projects and proposals, reports, appeals, with
decisions and responses to them from societies and public bodies as well
as private individuals, including the documented proceedings and official
duties, both legitimate and illegitimate, of all officials, together with
whatever then occurred, whether advantageous or harmful. And to that
end free access should be allowed to all archives, for the purpose of
copying such documents in loco or obtaining certified copies of them;
responsibility for the provision of which is subject to the penalty laid
down in §7 of this ordinance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§11. All reports
of parliamentary proceedings, from whichever locality they have formerly been
issued, may also be printed, by whomsoever applies to do so, save that
whatever is referred to in them regarding any<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">activity or negotiations
occurring on foreign territory that require secrecy may not be released and
made public. Regarding those reports of parliamentary proceedings,
on the other hand, that will be produced in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">future, We shall
graciously ensure that they will be published in printed form in the same
manner, in sufficient time before the beginning of each subsequent
Parliament to allow everyone the opportunity, not only to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">inform himself as well
as possible about the situation in the kingdom, but also all the more
easily to subsequently contribute to the general good by means of the
appropriate memoranda and useful proposals and information; besides which those
memorials and dictamina ad protocollum that are submitted to the Estates
of the Realm may be freely printed by whomsoever applies to do so. It is
also permitted to print the reports of the select committees with their
minutes and records of voting, in the manner prescribed in §7, although
not before the reports have been delivered to the plena. And as the
constitution requires that every matter be lawfully determined, and in
order that all Our loyal subjects may be persuaded of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the honourable conduct
of their delegates during the sessions of Parliament, it is therefore freely
permitted to print all the minutes and votes of the estates in the
aforesaid manner, which shall also apply to all matters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">submitted to the plena
by the Joint Security Committee as well as those gracious bills that We
Ourselves lay before the Estates of the Realm which do not contain
anything that should be kept secret.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§12. A truthful
history of former kings and regents and their ministers has been highly
regarded by most nations both in former and more recent times, as directly
raising important issues, in order to convey to the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">governing lords and
commoners memorable judgments on wise and commendable achievements and, on the
other hand, very necessary warnings against rash, imprudent, malicious or
even cruel and ignominious deci-16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">sions and deeds, as well
as to enable the subjects, from events in former reigns, all the better to
comply with, be aware of, understand, value and defend the obligations,
freedoms and rights that they possess, as well as<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">public and individual
security. In order that nothing should be lacking in such historical
works that may serve to ensure their completeness, We also wish to extend
to them the freedom of writing and of the press to the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">extent that all specific
events or known incidents, in part secret and in part more familiar, that
have occurred under past governments, either in this kingdom or elsewhere,
may be made public, together with political<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">comments on them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§1 . Furthermore,
We herewith also wish to graciously declare that, as it would be too
cumbersome to enumerate all possible subjects, cases and matters in
detail, it is Our gracious will and command that all Our loyal subjects
may possess and make use of a complete and unrestricted freedom to make
generally public in print everything that is not found to be expressly
prohibited in the first three paragraphs or otherwise in this gracious
ordinance, and still less that anything that may be noted, remarked upon
or otherwise published in the form of comment relating to all
the admissible cases and matters specified above may ever, under the
pretext<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">that it implies censure,
blame or criticism, be refused or prevented from being printed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§1 . And in order
that Our loyal subjects may in future possess that complete confidence
with regard to the assured preservation of the freedom of writing and of the
press outlined here that an irrevocable fundamental law provides, We herewith
wish to declare that no one, whoever he may be, on pain of Our Royal
displeasure, shall dare to advocate the slightest elaboration or
limitation of this gracious ordinance, much less<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">attempt on his own
authority to achieve such a limitation to a greater or lesser extent, and
that not even We Ourselves will permit anyone to make the slightest
modification, alteration or explication that could lead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to the curtailment of
the freedom of writing and of the press.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">§1 . The fines
listed in this gracious ordinance will be distributed three ways.Which all
those whom it concerns shall obediently observe. In confirmation of which
We have signed this with Our own hand and certified itwith Our Royal seal.
Stockholm, in the Council Chamber, on 2 December 1766.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ADOLPHUS
FREDERICK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(L.
S.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Johan
von Heland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">-------------------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 24pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 24pt;">Anders
Chydenius and the Origins of World’s First Freedom of
Information Act</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: lime; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Juha Manninen</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Freedom of information”
is the designation adopted around the world after its North American example as
the freedom of human actors to access existing documents. In the United
States such an act was passed in 1966, and became effective through
improvements made to it in 197 . This can be said to have signalled the
triumph of laws of freedom of information throughout the
world. Nevertheless, already 200 years before the Act was passed in
the United States, and thus before the founding of the United States at
all, such an Act had been passed in the Kingdom of Sweden, which at
the time also included Finland. As was to be expected, various complications
followed but the law proved to be a success in Scandinavia. It is partly
due to the Act that the European North, which previously had had a
very different image, has become the world’s least corrupt area
and, concurrently, exceptionally socially responsible and committed to
democratic principles. The most informed writers know to give the Freedom
of Information Act its Swedish name offentlighetsprincipen, “the principle
of publicity”. It is in Sweden that a Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA as it
is usually designated, was first put into practice, gaining a status in
the country’s constitution. Yet, the story of its origin is not generally
known. The work of the Diet in Sweden is well documented from different
perspectives. Of course, a number of controversies remain among historians,
but, concerning the world’s first FOIA, a valuable analysis can be found
in Professor Pentti Virrankoski’s biography of Anders Chydenius, the central
person involved in drafting the law. However, I will not hereconcentrate on
details of biography or political history – my standpoint is the
history of ideas – , but before going to the actual drafting of the Swedish
FOIA, it is necessary to highlight the ideological backgrounds of the key
actors in the process. I will look at how the first FOIA was composed, the
steps and conditions that made it possible, and analyse its different elements
on the human plane. Of some of the phases of the story inferences can be
based only on circumstantial evidence. But there are also preserved writings by
Anders Chydenius, primarily those in which he made preparations for
the Act, but also some short memoirs. Of additional interest is the fact
that Chydenius came from a periphery of the Swedish Realm, from the northern
and middle parts of Finland, and that he had an office in the service of
the Church, though he was still undeniably a versatile Enlightenment
philosopher, representing democratic thought, as we would say today. How
could such a person, a priest from the countryside be active in making radical
reforms? In its original formulation the Swedish Freedom of the Press Act
was short-lived, a mere six years, but its effect on the general
consciousness about rights was indelible. It was recurrently returned to in
new forms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">After various
developments the way of thinking expressed by the Freedom of Press Act of the
Swedish Realm has today become a cornerstone of the worldwide struggle for
freedom of information. It is conceived as the prerequisite of the freedom
of expression, widely seen as belonging to human rights, and it is just a
matter of time when it will finally be acknowledged to be an integral part of
them. The principle of the freedom of information has been approved
as part of legislation throughout the world in about 70 countries, and at
its strongest within constitutions. of the approving states of the
FOIAs are due to the unprecedented worldwide revolution in openness of
the 1990s. The number is growing every year. And yet even today there are
drawbacks that threaten FOIAs in individual countries. At present freedom
of information is recognised as the most effective way to prevent
corruption in developing countries, but Thomas S. Blanton, the Director of the
National Security Archive of the George Washington University underlines its
worth in promoting security in general. The consciousness of citizens and
their ability to act on it is often a more important security factor than
exaggerated secrecy measures. Perhaps the best confirmation of such a view
can be found in the history of the Nordic Countries, where general and
high education, social mobility and openness have been at the top of political
agendas. A few words about the history of Sweden/Finland in general areneeded.
The Swedish Diet of the so-called Age of Liberty (1719-1772) was an early
experiment in parliamentarism, the only one of its kind aside from the English
Parliament. The name given to the period refers to the shift of power from
the Monarch to the Estates. In effect it meant the liberty of the Estates.
The Swedish Diet was divided into four Estates: nobility, clergy, burghers and
peasants. In Sweden, the peasants were free and Lutheran priests had in
many cases good contacts with them. When the Estates assembled they had
all power, and the ruling Senate,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Council of the Realm,
was responsible to them. The King was little more than a representative
figure. As happens in parliamentarism, there were parties but they did not
have any powerful nation-wide organizations and they were concentrated
mostly in Stockholm. The Hats dreamed of making Sweden again a great European
power and were supported by France.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Caps thought than
such times were past. They had the support of England and Russia. After
losing Finland to Russia in the war of 1808, Sweden was never engaged in
further wars. Finland had the same rights as other ancient parts of
Sweden, the main difference being the language and origin of the major
part of the population. The country succeeded in defending its Swedish legal
order when it was later transformed into part of the Russian Empire.
However, the legal order of Finland in the 19th century was not that of
the Age of Liberty but the following one, dating from Gustav III’s era, one
that was friendlier to the Emperor. Still, some of the old rights were
sensitive from the Emperor’s point of view, but the autonomous status
given to Finland made possible a consolidation of this nation and state and,
indeed, a number of modern reforms and a democratic development. The
19th century was for Finland one of peace and nation building, under the
guiding device formulated by philosopher and statesman J.V. Snellman
that the strength of a small nation lies not so much in its arms but in
its level of education and culture, making it and its individual citizens
capable of rational action and integrating the thus enlightened population into
the network of global civilisation. In 1906, the Finnish Diet, which was
modelled on the Swedish one, could be turned into a single chamber parliament
where all men and women could be represented and elected according to a
general, unqualified right to vote – the first of its kind in the world. After
gaining full sovereignty in 1917, Finland never lost its democracy. It was
attacked by the Soviet Union in 19 9 because of the Stalin-Hitler pact. It lost
ten percent of its area in the Second World War, being the only
democracy fighting against Stalin’s aggression, but at a high cost it
remained one of the few European countries not occupied by foreign powers.
After the war it was busy building a democratic welfare state in the
company of other, in many ways similar, Nordic Countries. As this is being
written, it has for the second time the presidency of the European Union,
which is, contrary to pessimistic voices, emerging as a global peace
providing player. Starting Points of Chydenius and Some Other Writers On
the basis of Anders Chydenius’ (1729-180 ) formulations the Swedish Diet passed
in 1766 the Freedom of Press Act, Tryckfrihetsordningen, which was
unprecedentedly radical, both in Sweden and in the world in general. Chydenius
formulated during the Diet the thinking that proceeds from the idea of the
indivisibility of freedom: “A divided freedom is no freedom and a divided
constraint is an absolute constraint.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">He developed this idea
in conjunction with ever new issues, both during the historically
revolutionary Diet of 176 -1766 and later. In his memoirs he even claimed
that “for nothing else did I work in the Diet as diligently as the freedom of
writing and printing”. All writing about the foundations of affairs of the
state had so far been banned in Sweden, literally all writing, also with
pen on paper, not just the publishing of ideas. If one was discovered in
possession of forbidden materials, no explanations that it was written for
oneself only or at the most in a letter to a friend were of any help.
Therefore the act of the freedom of press would contain the curious double
characterization: the freedom of both writing as such and of publishing it
in the press and books, skrif- och tryckfrihet. When Anders
Chydenius, a young Church employee in the small county parish of
Alaveteli, became politically active it was to become an important
incentive to the development that led to the freedom of information in Sweden.
This happened when he participated as a speaker in 176 in the provincial
meeting (in Chydenius’ words, en allmän landtdag) that the deputy Governor
of Ostrobothnia Johan Mathesius had summoned in Kokkola. The main incentive for
Chydenius to set out to the assembly was the freedom of commerce of the
Gulf of Bothnia that had long been aspired to. The political wind was
changing after decades of rule by the Hats. The opposition party, the
Caps, and its new radicals, including Chydenius, would soon attain
prominent positions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Chydenius was a priest
who pondered many issues relevant to daily existence. He practiced
agriculture and its reform according to the latest knowledge, herded
merino-sheep, cultivated tobacco for sale, and participated in the cultivation
of potatoes introduced to Finland by the war over Pomerania, better known
as the Seven Years War. He was also an active medical practitioner, giving
health advice, vaccinations and practicing surgery, and in addition he wrote a
treatise on the causes of moss spreading in meadows and its prevention. Since
there were no apothecaries nearby, he learned the making of medicines.
This makes you wonder what kind of education Anders Chydenius received
when studying at the Academy of Turku and for a shorter time at the
University of Uppsala. All was not due to Chydenius’ exceptional initiative.
The degree he took involved manifold studies in the most diverse subjects
of the small but broadly oriented university of Finland, and not only
concentrated on theology. According to the project of the Enlightenment,
human individual reason would form the basis for processes of progress in
all fields of life. The ideas of humanity, freedom, equality and happiness
were not in themselves unique or new, whereas confidence in the
possibility to combine them to the rationality expressed by modern science,
technology and economy was a revolutionary idea. The Enlightenment
can be regarded as a universal European phenomenon that also reached beyond its
borders. The philosophical, scientific, economic, political, cultural and
religious contexts related to its birth differed from country to country.
Its point of departure was the move towards peace, reconstruction, the
restoration of economies and mutual interaction in Europe after the storms of
the early Eighteenth Century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The possibility for
a peaceful comparison of conditions in different countries gave birth to
critical standpoints and the will to make reforms, which little by little were
channelled into the programmes of the Enlightenment. After its Glorious
Revolution England became the general ideal for the early Enlightenment,
especially in France through the works of Voltaire. The Netherlands which
had realized the freedom of printing,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">gave an important
contribution to making the Enlightenment possible in a wider European
context. Hanover, which had a personal union with England, was to bring
the Enlightenment to the German countries and to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Scandinavia especially
via the new University of Göttingen</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">There was no one great
Enlightenment movement in Sweden, though there were Enlightenment
tendencies. There were also individual Enlightenment perpetrators, such as
Peter Forsskål and Anders Chydenius. Both promoted the same goals,
Forsskål ideating them, Chydenius actually realizing a number of them and
fighting for more. There is no proof of a direct literal connection between the
two men, despite the correspondences in their thinking. Politically, both
belonged to the Caps, although not in any strong sense. Chydenius was a
disciple of the Enlightenmentspirited professors of the Academy of Turku, but
unlike his instructors who tended towards the Hats, he found himself
siding with the Caps. In Sweden there was no Enlightenment programme against
the state as in France for the simple reason that Sweden had an early
form of parliamentarism. When the Estates did not meet, the Senate had
to follow their instructions. If the scrutiny of the records of the Senate
by the Estates then showed this had not been the case, the Senate
members responsible for “errors” could be dismissed. This is also what
happened in practice. Different parties could gain governance in the
country, though especially the Hats who had long had the lead, throughout
Chydenius’ youth, had been able to stay in power even after taking the
country to disastrous wars. The point is that under such a mode of
governance it was possible to affect a change in society without taking
recourse to violence against the state.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The precondition of
being able to affect such change was to have free access to information of
the state of affairs and to express one’s opinions about them. The Caps,
who most clearly felt the need for a change, especially the radical ones coming
from peripheral parts of the realm, understood this best. Anders Chydenius
was not widely travelled in Europe at all. He travelled only within the realm,
first to the universities of Turku and Uppsala and then to the Diet in
Stockholm as one of the junior members of the Estate of Clergy. Nor did he
become a courtier during his stay in the prosperous capital. He had only a
limited circle of acquaintances, though his thinking was not limited, and
by appealing to publicity, exploiting the possibility to publish political
writings during the Diet, he made up for his lack of influence. He also
clearly had a network of relations behind the scenes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Most of the authors
discussed here had a common background in the peripheral regions of the
country, families that moved from one place to another, and a tortuous
process of social rise. Such a background made it possible to perform
comparisons and develop a critical stand. Anders Chydenius was born in
Sotkamo, an absolute periphery of peripheral Finland. Johan Arckenholtz and
Peter Forsskål were born in Helsinki which at that time was quite an
unimportant centre, the most flourishing Finnish city being Turku. All three
also came from peripheral parts of Finland, which however had their
connections to the centres of state politics and academic life.
Arckenholtz’es father was the Secretary of Uusimaa and Häme county,
Forsskål’s and Chydenius’ fathers were priests, thus in a position where it was
necessary to know the vernacular and the conditions of local population.
Having a background in periphery and experience of mobility brought
together many critical voices, including the prolific political writer
Anders Nordencrantz, who came from Northern Sweden, but had been in
England and knew Europe. Nordencrantz was an author who was very important
for Chydenius. By contrast the powerful figures of the ancient families
had from time immemorial been concentrated round the king in Stockholm,
where they were able to keep themselves informed and gain influence. The
nouveau riche of Stockholm was of course in the same position, even
concerning the Diet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Utility on the Agenda of
the University of Turku.</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The earliest
introduction to some aspects of enlightenment thought in Finland was
presented by professor of rhetoric Henrik Hassel, born in Åland, the
archipelago between Sweden and Finland. Instead of admiring<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the Classics as was the
rule in his profession, which concentrated on the use of Latin, he paved
the way to modernist thinking. Hassel was the main representative of
Humanism in Turku from 1728-177 . His course differed from those of his
colleagues in other Swedish universities. Yet it did not reflect directly
the alternative attitudes of the Royal Academy in Stockholm, founded to
forward utility, natural sciences and economy. Finland’s occupation
by the Russians during the Great Northern War caused great destruction and
a hiatus in the work of the university, but this made it possible to
recommence the functioning of the Turku Academy on a completely new basis,
without dwelling overly on the past. Hassel took advantage of the
situation, as can be seen by the theses he tutored. Hassel regarded
knowledge to be based on sensory experience and reason, and opposed
metaphysical speculation. Knowledge should be of immediate service to
human life. Francis Bacon was his paragon of virtue. According to Hassel,
the world was as it was contingently and not by necessity, since God had
created it freely. Absolute knowledge of the world was not possible.
Divine reason was not within man’s reach. The use of creatures of the
world to certain ends, their utility, was ordained by God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Though Hassel had no
overall idea of progress, he regarded the sciences as progressing. Contemporary
science was thus not about retrieving the Classics, but the achievement of
Bacon and his followers. In the theses tutored by Hassel the significance of
the vernacular as the language of science was surprisingly stressed in
contrast to Latin, his own field. Hassel thought that such a change of
language was one of the background factors behind the success of England and
France. The mother tongue as the language of science was to be raised
everywhere to the same level reached by the contemporary languages of
those successful countries. The worth of the past was to be found in the
fact that rhetoric and culture had flourished best under conditions of
political freedom. Furthermore, Hassel was convinced that the cause of
almost all the misery in the realm during the existing and past century
had been war. In 26 the spirit of Samuel Pufendorf’s natural justice that
stressed the significance of contracts, he gave a pacific tone to his treatment
of relations between states and individuals. The theses rejected the
rhetorical way of appealing to emotion. Instead one should address reason
so that people could form their opinions themselves and not be driven hither
and thither, slaves to another’s will. Hassel who appreciated
empirical sciences was to have some colleagues who appreciated especially the
utility of natural sciences. Johan Browallius had studied Bacon’s
empiristic utilitarian philosophy, and was a good friend of Carl Linné.
Browallius published two booklets, one asserting the benefits of natural
history in schools and the other its significance in universities. The
works argued that speculation should be replaced by extensive observations
and gathering them from all over the realm, including by using the
educatory system. According to Browallius, the clergy was in an excellent
position to teach natural science to the peasants, and set an example in
their own agricultural activities. C. F. Mennander, another disciple of
Linné, was more humanistic than his predecessor Browallius, applying even
Pudendorf’s natural law in his teachings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The professorship of
poetry in Turku was transformed into a professorship of economics, one of the
first in the world. The position was given after much dispute to Linné’s
favourite disciple Pehr Kalm, who studied in Turku and in Uppsala, made
expeditions to Russia and Ukraine, and, after receiving the professorship,
a renowned journey to North America, documented in a book translated into
several languages. Economics was part of a project to have professorships
in sciences of utility at the universities of Sweden. At Uppsala it was
accomplished from without the university, in Turku there were sustainers
already within the university.Whereas at Uppsala, the main university of
the realm, economics concentrated on the affairs of the state and
statistics needed by the governance, and on the doctrine of trade under
mercantile ruling, Turku was the only place in Sweden to represent Linné’s
peculiar notion of economics: one was to learn it through agriculture and its
reform, utilitarian plants and natural products and descriptions of
regions and counties. No Swedish university was so tied to utilitarian
thinking as Turku. At no other Swedish university was there to be
developed such a union of striving for utility and the humanism that
directed it. At Turku the values of humanity, freedom and happiness were
combined with a trust in the rationality of science, economy and even
technology. Instead of enhancing manufacture and technological skills it was
however seen proper for Finland to advance agriculture.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Johan Arckenholtz and
the Ideal Country of England.</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A precondition for the
transformation of Sweden was the decision to end absolute monarchy and give
highest power to the Estates, made by a state that was weary of the endless
wars of Charles the XII and that had lost its status as a great power.
Arvid Horn was then practically in the position of a prime minister,
leading the Chancellary, and his realistic foreign policy opened for many the
doors to England, which was practicing parliamentarism and was to be followed
in this by Sweden. However, despite frequent commercial contacts with England,
a great number of leading Swedes remained allied to France, unable to admit
that the grandeur of Sweden as a great European power was a thing of the past.
Johan Arckenholtz, who had travelled widely in Europe as a guide to young noblemen
and was deeply versed in its history and social conditions, was the first Finn
to be impressed in 17 1 by the society he had experienced in England. In
England, unlike the rest of the Europe, according to Arckenholtz, the Estates
were not kept apart. All followed the same statutes. All paid taxes, from the
high to the low. Parliament, the House of Lords and the Court balanced one
another’s power, but the decisive power in the realm was held by Parliament.
The English, who loved their freedom and increased their wealth, were the most
efficient of all nations in enhancing common well-being and manifested in their
actions a future “natural equality” between men, as Arckenholtz expressed it
with Pufendorf’s concept.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">After having received an
office in the Chancellery Arckenholtz wrote an extensive manuscript on the
position and interests of Sweden in Europe, discussing the situation in the
different European states and their prospects of development. In the chapter
dealing with England he formulated the principles of his own social and
political philosophy. He came to the conclusion that there was no sense in
revelling about an ideal state in the fashion of Plato, More or Campanella.
Utopias had never proved to function. It was infinitely easier to look for faults
in the existing state than to formulate the structure for a model one. Yet one
needed an understanding of a mode of governance where “all disorder and
imperfection may be avoided, and where every member or subject can be called
happy, and where he indeed after his own manner may so be”. The happiness of a
nation was to be estimated by the amount of population that could be regarded
prosperous, or by the degree whereby the government at least strove for maximum
well-being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The mode of governance
was a significant precondition for well-being. A good mode of governance was
according to Arckenholtz one that bound together the fundamental parts of the
state, so that movement could pass from one part to another. Everything should
have a common ground that would enable the right functioning and movement to
the whole mechanism. Such a developed harmony was rare because the lawmakers
could not create the whole organised state at once. Laws had to be made
piecemeal, applying long-standing laws and customs. A lawmaker was thus in the
same position as a master builder renovating an old house with new materials.
The building could never be as beautiful as when beginning the work from the
foundations. Parts of the pre-existing house would be preserved within the new.
Arckenholtz gave an interesting example. Even though it was possible to remove
the absolute monarchy from governance, repressive relations could still be
preserved, unnecessary secrecy concerning public issues could be observed,
freedom of opinion could be restricted, freedom of writing and press banned. A
free nation should abhor such remnants of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">despotism in its public
life. According to Arckenholtz, the freedom of a nation presupposed also the
freedom of public discussion of significant common issues, including freedom of
the press. Arckenholtz did not name any such state where outdated secrecy had
been preserved. But the description fits exactly his contemporary Sweden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">England possessed,
according to Arckenholtz, a correct understanding of the freedom of personal
liberty and liberty of property; it pertained to both the high and the low, and
no privilege put one estate before another.The English did not talk as much
about the common good as they furthered it in their actions in practice, but
Arckenholtz could still maintain that “...common good is promoted in England
more seriously and enthusiastically than anywhere else in the world”. The whole
nation was elevated with “public spirit”. In his treatment of foreign politics
Arckenholtz thought the politics<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of peace and a
neutrality of sorts to be in the interests of Sweden. His admiration for
England and mistrust towards France did not go well with the opposition party
of that time, afterwards named the Hats, which had leanings towards France. The
Hats were strengthening their positions. Together with another Finn, Johan
Mathesius, who acted as the Finnish interpreter for the Chancellery,
Arckenholtz opposed the Hats, obsessed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">with military power and
demanding an attack on Russia. Arckenholtz was active in negotiations with the
Finnish Diet members in the coffee houses and inns of Stockholm. Later, he
apparently even sought to influence the election of Diet members from Finland
and the counties on the other side of the Gulf of Bothnia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Such outside influence
was considered an interference with the freedom of the Estates. When the Hats
gained power in government Arckenholtz would pay for his opinions first by
losing his office, accused of endangering the relations with France, and when
the war against Russia really broke out, by being imprisoned for its duration,
along with Mathesius. Nothing would dishearten their stubborn opposition to the
Hats, and finally he had to leave Sweden. Much later, both of these staunch
Caps with rich memories of the political past would encounter the young
Chydenius at crucial stages of his career. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Peter Forsskål and the
Enlightenment</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Peter Forsskål begun his
studies in Uppsala at the age of 10, and joined the circle of eager natural
scientists that was gathered around Linné. With the help of a grant he could
study philosophy and Oriental languages at the best Enlightenment university of
the time, Göttingen. It was there that he presented his dissertation in 17 6,
which defended the principles of empiricism. His tutors at Göttingen praised
their student’s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">free spirit and his
trust in his own capacities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> The
dissertation and the disputes that followed made Forsskål the first Finn to
have defended the freedom of scientific research. In his view science should
not be frozen into an inhuman, unchangeable system. The search for truth
demanded infinite renewal. Truth could be also approached in diverse ways and
therefore fundamental to science were both continuous critique and tolerance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">
After returning to his fatherland Forsskål asked permission of the
University of Uppsala to defend a doctoral thesis on the freedom of citizens,
De libertate civili. Because of the sensitivity of his subject this was denied.
Later, Forsskål managed to obtain permission from the Censor of the Realm to
print a Swedish version of his treatise, Tankar om borgerliga friheten. He
handed out the five hundred copies of the edition mainly to students in Uppsala
in 17 9. He had a docentship in economics at the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">university, but earned
his living under the protection of the Caps, as a private instructor in the
family of Count Christer Horn, of Finnish origins and a likeminded thinker. For
the Hats freedom meant absolute power and untouchability for the Estates
assembled to the Diet. Forsskål presented a radical alternative to this
conception of freedom. He summed up the claims of Enlightenment in twenty
theses. In defending his booklet Forsskål said his conclusion was that “freedom
must be maintained through freedom, that is, the freedom of the realm through
the freedom of writing, as is the case in England”. The answer to shortcomings
and discontent could be given either “in blood” or “in ink”. According to
Forsskål Sweden could only choose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the latter, and this
presupposed the creation of an “enlightened public”. The goal was general civic
freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Absolute monarchy was
the gravest menace to civic freedom, but also in a state boasting of its
freedom people could oppress each other. Concealing injustice made this
possible. Everybody should have the right to express in public writing what he
thought was an offence against the common good. The life and power of civic freedom
resided according to Forsskål in a limited government and unlimited freedom of
writing. To this Forsskål added a reminder that blasphemy, libel and evident
persuasion to misdemeanour should not be allowed. The censor demanded that he
add also attacks against government to the list. One passage had to be removed
completely: it stated that the freedom of writing could be no menace to divine
revelation, rational constitution or individual honour, because “the truth will
always conquer, when it can be questioned and defended through equal rights”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Forsskål’s defence of
religious tolerance was allowed in the printed version. Here, in his view, the
English model was also the most momentous. Opposing heresies only made them
stronger, whereas lenience towards people of different creeds enhanced their
adaptation to society. Neither did England have to fear intrigues against the
constitution. Through the freedom of writing shortcomings could be recognized
in time and resolved. The freedom of writing was a guarantee for the
flourishing of sciences, supervision of public officials and ultimately the
stability of the government. The citizens should be able to obtain pertinent
information about social conditions and use the knowledge to enhance general
well-being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Civic freedom should be
extended to the economy as well as the state. Forsskål was against the guilds,
which he deemed a slow and inefficient system, and demanded public schools that
would prepare people for professions. Impediments to buying land should also be
removed. Also the people without estate should be lords in their own homes
after the fashion of England and Germany. Steps had been taken to have the
principle of merit approved as the basis for nomination to an office or
promotion to a higher one during the Diet of 17 -17 6. Forsskål took it
further. Instead of birth, money and relations, one’s own capabilities and
industriousness should be of decisive importance. Forsskål thought that
citizens should have the right to defend themselves publicly before an
impartial court, but he was forced to see that this right was denied him. After
the publication of his booklet the Council of the Realm ordered it to be
confiscated. Rector Linné was given the task to collect the copies, although he
managed to gather only a small part of the edition. A long and futile exchange
of letters with different bodies of the opposing machinery ensued. With the
help of professor J.D. Michaelis from Göttingen Forsskål was appointed as a
natural scientist to the expedition to Arabia by the king of Denmark. After
prolific gathering of observations and various mishaps Forsskål passed away in
Jemen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It is easy to agree with
the Swedish writer Thomas von Vegesack: “The significance of Forsskål’s theses
can hardly be overrated. His book is a summary of those demands which in the
Europe of Enlightenment could be put to society.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">How a Priest Found
Politics</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The foremost Finnish
social thinker of the Eighteenth Century was Anders Chydenius. However, as I
will show, his thought had not only a local interest, although the discontent
of the people of Chydenius’ home county Ostrobothnia certainly forms a causal
precondition for it. Because of the turn Chydenius’ thought took, it must
instead be judged as belonging to the most important social and political
philosophies in the fascinating world of the Eighteenth Century in general.
Like most of the early modern philosophers, Chydenius had no academic career,
and he can be considered a “philosopher” only due to the general theoretical
significance of his writings. His name does not appear in ordinary curricula
around the world, but this can be explained by reference to the unhappy
situation that the great bulk of Chydenius’ writings has so far been available
only in Swedish and Finnish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Chydenius acted in
Ostrobothnia first as the curate of Alaveteli, then as the pastor of Kokkola.
Compared to Peter Forsskål he became more an Enlightenment influence at the
level of national Swedish politics. He was also a comparable phenomenon to Adam
Smith as a formulator of economic liberalism, albeit independently of Smith.
Economic freedom was important for the Finns for exactly the same reason as for
the Scots in the period of their unification with England. Abandoning the
barriers of trade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">was a common goal and so
it was no wonder that there was a congruence of thought. The political career
of Chydenius was made possible by the Swedish Diet, through which the periphery
might also try to make its voice heard. In the centres of the realm direct and
secretive links to the cores of power could function well enough, but for the
peripheries it was important to expand freedom, publicity and the accessibility
of information, and thus improve the possibilities of independent action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The provincial meeting
held in Kokkola proved to be a turning point for Chydenius. The meeting was a
dramatic happening, recapitulating the long-standing struggle of the people
from Ostrobothnia for their rights to engage in commerce. The issue dates back
to the 1617 sailing code and its restrictions. The code gave the right to sail
from the region to just twostaple cities, Stockholm and Turku. Merchants from
these cities transported the products from Ostrobothnia abroad. The export of
tar was the monopoly of the great merchants from Stockholm, likewise all import
of products. The burghers and peasants of Ostrobothnia saw this as an affront
to their rights and an unjust privilege for the capital. All proposals to
change the situation had been repeatedly rejected. The lack of rights of commerce
was felt in the regions surrounding the Gulf of Bothnia, and especially in
Ostrobothnia. There was ongoing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">anger at the regulation
of commerce and initiatives to have it cancelled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Diet that opened in
1760 turned into a real confrontation. The peasants of Ostrobothnia tabled a
motion to have three staple cities, while the peasants of Norrland demanded
two. Petter Stenhagen, the magistrate of Kokkola wrote several accounts to
prove what an injustice it was that Stockholm profited from foreign trade at
the expense of the province. Stenhagen had found also more general arguments to
support his standpoint, references to the profits of the freedom of trade and
even of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">a general freedom of
occupation to the realm. The motion for new staple cities had strong support
among the peasant estate, and also the nobility and the clergy tended towards
it. The burghers of Stockholm however opposed it strongly, and turned it into a
question regarding the privileges of all the Estates, which presupposed it
would have to be approved by all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A systematic and deep
corruption had been a notorious habit of the country, with support bought by
corrupting the Diet members. France, England and Russia had traditionally used
large sums with varying degrees of success to direct the Swedish Diet, which
had no system of wages or reimbursements. Vaasa, Kokkola and Oulu made use of
this traditional means. Unsurprisingly, Stockholm could muster more wealth. The
peasant estate began to waver in its stand. The issue was adjourned. It was
passed to the Council of the Realm to be cleared up, which passed it to the
Councils of Chancellery and Commerce, which in turn requested a statement from
the Governors of Ostrobothnia and Norrland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">At this stage the
long-standing Cap an acting Governor Johan Mathesius decided to covene a
special assembly in Kokkola. Chydenius says in his memoirs that the purpose of
the meeting was to unite “the cities of Ostrobothnia to the countryside
surrounding them”. This was done so that during the next Diet it would be
possible to work together “for the already demanded freedom of sailing and to
be prepared for the opposition that might come from the merchants of Stockholm
and Turku”. The provincial meeting was held in February 176 . Chydenius was
asked to produce a text on the subject for the purpose mentioned above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This was the real
beginning of his political career. But it was also an interesting sign of the
times that such a meeting was held at all. From the time of the meeting on
Chydenius was an undeniable Cap politician. Chydenius recalls the outcome of
his participation thus: “The text was courageous, and I wished to remain
unknown, but there was no-one brave enough to present it; therefore I had to
step forward myself and read it to the whole congregation, while the public
applauded most enthusiastically…” The only version of the speech that survived
is the one published by the city of Kokkola two years later, when preparations
for the Diet began. Chydenius studied the material produced during the previous
Diet and discussed with people versed in the subject.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Chydenius recalled later
that due to envy caused by the speech he was in danger of being imprisoned, had
not some of his protectors intervened without his knowledge. The truth may
never be known, but the menacing situation recalled by Chydenius cannot be
considered impossible. The Diet had decided to impose severe restrictions in
the towns on meetings of this kind. Johan Mathesius had well over twenty years
since paid bitterly for his political activity with Johan Arckenholtz of
recruiting people against the Hats. After that the condemnatory attitudes
towards such activity had only become sterner. The principle that Diet members
would be answerable to their electors had been condemned as contrary to the
Swedish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Constitution. In its
strictest form the feared imperative mandate meant that the electors could
withdraw their Diet member, if he acted against their will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Chydenius seems to have
had in mind the scrutiny of the Diet members by the nation, a conception that
at least came close to that of the forbidden imperative mandate, as can be seen
from the sketch on freedom of the press by Chydenius found in his papers: “The
freedom of a nation does not consist in the sovereign estates acting as they
will, but in that the light of the nation binds their hands so that they cannot
act in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">a biased manner.” In a
later version, presented to the Committee of the Freedom of Press, the passage
has been moderated to the statement: “The freedom of a nation cannot be upheld
by laws alone, but also by the light of the nation and knowledge of their use.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Chydenius had apparently
been told that to demand that the nation needs to control the estates gathered
in the Diet would lead to contestations. A safer way to express the idea would
be to use the metaphor of light. The constitution did not recognize the ancient
assemblies of the county, called to represent local interests. In Kokkola there
were gathered representatives of different cities of Ostrobothnia, of the
clergy, peasants, commanding officers of the local regiment, and even some
representatives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">from the eastern part of
the country, in all many former and future Diet members. Such a meeting was a
significant “local parliament”, which defied the decision of the sovereign
Diet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The imperative mandate
would have been a means to control the representatives and counteract the
bribes. Soon Chydenius would find out that there was also another, less harsh
method: free public opinion. There is no mention of Chydenius’ speech in
the records of the assembly Johan Mathesius made for the Councils, and thus it
has been<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">possible to conclude
that Mathesius intentionally kept secret the demand of freedom of commerce for
the Gulf of Bothnia presented by the assembly. Nevertheless the result of the
meeting was the goal to have three new staple cities and to ease the conditions
of four others in other ways, while also ensuring the right of sailing by
peasants. Not surprisingly it was precisely the experienced opposition man
Mathesius who organised such a meeting fully conscious of the dangers that went
with it, and gave it the most innocent form possible, protecting Chydenius,
whose speech was<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">not officially recorded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Formulating General
Principles</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Soon after the events in
Kokkola, Chydenius wrote an essay for the competition announced by the Royal
Academy of Science on the causes of Swedish emigration and the means to prevent
it. Trying to find the causes and formulate general explanatory principles was
characteristic of Chydenius’ activity, not only in this one essay but also
later on. The script was in fact a broad and grim political pamphlet, where
Chydenius already discussed how the light of knowledge should enlighten a
free-thinking citizen elected to represent his estate in the Diet. Chydenius
summed up the lessons of history as an ongoing struggle between constraint and
freedom. Fatherland was where one was happy, and happiness depended always on
liberty. “Everybody strives after the freedom to which one is born.”
Chydenius elaborated his ideas further: “Freedom is the true opposite of
constraint, but as a word its meanings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">are much too numerous,
it is most prone to be used and abused and must therefore be used most
cautiously, so that it causes not more harm than good. For the freedom of
certain persons has lead to devastation in all states, and could prove to be
such also for us, unless we oppose it in time. We don’t have to dwell on the
freedom of governance itself here. It is a precious accomplishment that we
never want to lose, not as long as we and our descendants will be called
Swedes. I am addressing that freedom, by which I mean the privilege of every
citizen given to him by the laws and constitutions of the realm to promote his
own happiness to the degree that he will not impair the happiness of his fellow
citizens or of the whole society.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This was an
English-type, individualistic conception of freedom in a general sense, not
just limited to a few individuals or to a form of state. For Chydenius people
seek help and shelter from each other and have thus left behind a natural
state, where everybody is responsible only for himself. All have from their
free will sworn an oath of loyalty to the Swedish Crown. Love towards it rested
on the foundation of freedom:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Therefore no-one must
be another’s lord, no-one’s slave; all have the same right, all the same
interest. When this happens, the citizen has all that he can reasonably wish
for and in some well organized society attain; then no reason remains for him
to emigrate...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Lord had, according
to Chydenius, made nature perfect and man sociable, and also men’s abilities
thus that the more they enjoyed freedom, the more they procured strength and
comfort for the society and for each individual. Nor did freedom disturb
occupations. It invested them with more vigour and movement. Chydenius
emphasized that society must protect all productive members as the apple of its
eye. His views clashed completely with those of the professor of economics at
Uppsala University, Anders Berch. Berch considered the existence of poverty
necessary for the ruling of society, because without it people would grow lazy
and stop working. Chydenius instead believed industriousness to be a natural
property of men, and civic freedom would enhance and not diminish it. All that
was needed to unleash it were equal rights and privileges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Carl von Linné’s
peculiar tenet about natural economy was combined in Chydenius’ thinking with
ideas about natural justice coming from Pudendorf, and seemingly also from a
conception stemming from John Locke. Chydenius did not dream of a return to a
natural state preceding the organized society, but instead of a society where
everybody would “be well”. Such a state, Chydenius believed, was connected
precisely to freedom. The prevailing contemporary economic tenet called
Mercantilism relied on rules, subsidies and input from above, strict regulation
and the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">control of occupations
and industries by the state. Linné’s economical thinking instead gave a central
role to an “economy of nature” stemming from God. This line of thinking had
become established at the University of Turku. According to it the order and
balance created by God prevailed in nature. All things had their place and
meaning in the Great Chain of Being, the highest of all being man, whose
utility the rest of the creation served. From this perspective economics was
based on the knowledge of nature and the utility it offered. The proper order
of nature was to be followed, not disturbed. This conception of nature led to
questioning political the regulation of economics and thus paved the way for
liberalism. In his treatise on menial servants and later in his other writings
Chydenius opposed forced measures. Like Pufendorf he departed from the natural
equality between people and like Locke he thought that all people own
themselves and their labour-power, which they ought to be able to sell to the
highest bidder. He defended the freedom of contracts for menial servants instead
of the law on menial service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">When the Caps won the
elections Chydenius became a representative of the Diet in 176 -1766, defending
the freedom of trade of the cities of the Gulf of Bothnia against the
privileges enjoyed by Stockholm. To advance his cause he studied the history of
existing statutes and wrote pamphlets appealing to the Diet members and greater
public. From practical interests he progressed to making a general theoretical
presentation of his view in his booklet about “the national gain”, as he said,
Den nationnale Vinsten (176 ), where he formulated a comprehensive program of
economic freedom. Never in his thought did he simply defend his compatriots in
Ostrobothnia. He sought universal solutions to the problems encountered. On the
other hand, Chydenius was not a lone genius, without preconditions and popping
up from nothing. For a great part, his ideas were anchored in the teachings of
the University of Turku. When he came to Stockholm, he had an open mind, but in
a scholarly sense his reading remained limited, although he obviously profited
from his publisher Lars Salvius who also ran a bookshop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In Chydenius’ view
knowledge of the natural order created by God was necessarily incomplete, as it
had been to Henrik Hassel and his followers in Turku. A lawmaker could not have
sufficient grounds for favouring some occupations, regulating labour or
offering privileges to certain groups. Consequently, the best regulation was
natural. It was formed by demand. Occupations attained a balance after being
freed: “In this mankind is entirely like the sea, where one pillar
of water affects another with an infinite pressure, but an equal respective
pressure causes the surface of the water to remain level and horizontal. No
enclosing of each pillar of water or other complicated measures will be
needed.” This was Chydenius’ defence for a free market economy, not unlike Adam
Smith’s “invisible hand”, presented only later in print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Already in his essay on
the causes of emigration Chydenius emphasized that in a free state wide
learning and knowledge is needed because the majority must settle matters. A
free people could not entrust its matters to the few. The more numerous the
subjects participating in the deliberations are, in some way or other, thought
Chydenius, the better shall they represent society, and the less possible is it
to silence them with<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">threats, the less
possible it is to bribe them. From this he reasoned: “That it could happen, the
nation must itself be enlightened, but this requires reason; this is best
exercised when we write our thoughts down on paper. But for this there is no
great incentive, unless printing makes it common.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Where would a Diet
member learn reason? Chydenius answered: “From all pamphlets published for and
against concerning the success and misfortune of our fatherland, for thus is
the truth best discovered. Therefore the legitimacy of the freedom of writing
and printing is one of the strongest defences of our freedom. But if only
biased arguments and corrections ever see the light, the high representatives
themselves will<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">remain in darkness. The
highest power must therefore with tender and caring eyes also regard this facet
of our freedom.” Such a “tender and caring eye” could also mean the Censor
representing the highest power. The contemporary Censor Niklas von Oelreich<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">saw himself as a
promoter of the freedom of the press. The term for the Swedish era of the
sovereign Estates as “the Age of Liberty” comes from one of his writings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">During the Diet
Chydenius concluded that political censorship was not needed at all. In
England, censorship had been abolished in 1769 , but it had not been replaced
by a new law formulated with positive concepts, wherefore control could seek
new forms. The radical Swedish Tryckfrihetsordningen would thus be the first
nationwide liberating freedom of information act. Its founding idea can be
considered to have been formulated by Chydenius: the freedom of a nation presupposes
an enlightened<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">publicity, which will
tie the hands of the Estates and impede them from<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">using absolute power.
This moved the focus from the sovereign Estates to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the nation in general.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Sources and Mentors in
Stockholm</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In his memoirs speaking
of his indebtedness regarding the idea of the Freedom of the Press Anders
Chydenius mentions only two names. Neither was an author of the memorial on
Freedom of the Press presented to the Diet. Both were Caps well ahead in their
years: the tempestuous writer on issues of the day Anders Nordencrantz; and
Johan Arckenholtz, who had already served in the Chancellery under Arvid Horn,
and who had later been suspended by the Hats because of his anti-French
leanings. Nordencrantz’es writings meant a lot to Chydenius. In his memoirs
Chydenius explained: “When becoming a priest there was no subject knew less
about than politics, but the Diet Journals published during the 1766 Diet
opened my eyes for the first time to ideas about the Swedish form of government
and our political constitutions, and when Councillor of Commerce Nordencrantz
at the 1761 Diet presented his detailed memorial to the Estates of the Realm,
and this came to my possession like his other writings on the rate of exchange,
it incited me to go further into such matters.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Riksdagstidningar of
17 6 Chydenius first referred to was merely a bulletin containing information
on the decisions of the Diet. As such it contained no political analysis and
still less a critique, but its significance was in telling what the Diet was
and what happened during it. Already during the last Diet Nordencrantz had been
given permission to publish two previously written books of his, in which he
strictly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">criticised the Hats and
defended the radical freedom of the press. Nordercratz did not present England
as a model of freedom of the press, however, because he did not approve of the
Whigs who were in power. Instead he set up as a model China, widely admired in
those days, about which he gathered information through citations in French
from the Jesuit JeanBabtiste Du Halde’s work in four volumes Description
géographique et historique de l’empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie chinoise
(17 ), the basic work on China in the Eighteenth Century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Even though Nordencrantz
spoke a lot about freedom of the press and opposed secrecy, he did not demand
the abolishion of censorship. He would have allowed even rebellious writings,
which he thought ought to be publicly corrected, not punished. He would have
maintained religious censorship. He would have moved political censorship from
the Censor and Chancellery to the Estates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In connection with the
freedom of printing Chydenius writes of Nordencranz in his memoirs only that:
“Nordencrantz’s writings had opened my eyes so that I now considered it
[freedom of the press] the apple of the eye of a free realm.” This frequent
Chydenian metaphor of the freedom of press as the “apple of the eye” of a free
nation and its constitution was in fact derived from Nordencrantz. It has not
been possible to establish with certainty how Chydenius arrived at a conception
much more radical than the one held by Nordencrantz: the demand to abolish
political censorship in general. But there is even some contemporary printed
evidence enlightening the development of his thoughts. In his memoirs Chydenius
does not mention the small pamphlet published in the Spring of 1766, translated
from Danish by Chydenius, including a foreword written by him and dedicated to
the Crown Prince Gustav, the future Gustav the III. The Danish economics writer
F.C. Lütken, versed in physiocracy, had published a chapter from Du Halde’s
book on the censorship during the Chinese Tang dynasty (618-907 AD). Chydenius
translated this passage, following the admiration held by Nordencrantz towards
China, and it forms the main content of the pamphlet. Du Halde’s text in the
pamphlet begins with a reference to the ancient custom of hanging on the palace
walls canvases, where the subjects could write their opinions. The author then
tells of numerous wise emperors who had set themselves censors to remind them
of their duties, warn them of mistakes and relate of all things concerning the
government of the realm. Nothing they brought up would cause the emperor to
take offence, thus they could do it openly and without fear. The wise emperors
were receptive to all remarks and corrected their actions. This explained the
success and endurance of China.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In his foreword
Chydenius agreed with this. The same practices would lead to same results
everywhere, thus also in Europe. The practice had originated already under
absolute monarchy, but it could be fitted to a Swedish guise, “under the
protection of the sweet name of Freedom”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Light and truth should
lead people, but nobody had them from their birth. Those responsible for the
nation must procure them. Often the light giving splendour to the throne
blinded the rulers from seeing “the destinies of their distant subjects”.
Behind these metaphors one can detect Chydenius’ critique of those near the
ruler. But, he emphasized, there were such rulers whose heart was filled with
compassion, when they “stepped down to the abodes of the smallest and heard the
voice of the Nation”. They performed with the blessing of people deeds of
everlasting glory.“Distant subjects”, “the abodes of the smallest” and “the
voice of the Nation” were examples of true Chydenius in the eloquent foreword.
In fact, when the pamphlet came out Chydenius had already been working for a
much more radical solution than could be gathered from that publication.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In his memoirs Chydenius
said of the times of the Diet begun in 176 that the cause he was promoting “was
exactly to the taste of the party that had long been underfoot and now for the
first time sat at the reins, willing to open those recesses of knowledge
created by the former party, and under whose power they had so long been
suppressed”. According to preserved records, one gets the impression that
Chydenius was somewhat smoothing the description of the situation. “Opening the
recesses of knowledge”, freedom of information as the right to publicise
official records was not even mentioned in the oldest extant version of the
memorial he wrote. He may have heard such demands, but he had not adopted them
initially. The passage on China might indeed reflect his earliest feelings. It
presented the idea about the king and the people, and contained a gibe against
the nobility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Chydenius continues in
his memoirs, here manifestly reliably: “Therefore I made a memorial of it [the
freedom of the press], which I gave to the late Bishop Serenius for his use,
who introduced me to the acquaintance of the late Counsellor of the Court
Arckenholtz, newly arrived in Stockholm, and invited me to consult with him
about the memorial. After various discussions and reflections I rewrote my
memorial...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">According to his account
Chydenius thus had “various discussions” over his first, extinct version of the
memorial on Freedom of the Press precisely with Johan Arckenholtz. These lead
to a new, but not yet final version of the memorial. We may ask why the
earliest version of the memorial has not been preserved. One possibility is
that it underwent so many changes that it was not worth preserving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Jakob Serenius, an old
fox and a Cap who had seen from within different stages of Swedish politics,
proved a disappointment to Chydenius in this matter. Serenius did read the
memorial and even shortened it, “but at the end of the draft he retorted that
it was not permitted to write anything concerning the state, which shocked me
greatly, since with these few words already had been allowed all that the
friends of constriction and secrecy could demand, and I dissociated myself from
anything<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">like it. He complained
it was a most delicate matter and had been contested, but asked me then to
write in my own name as it pleased me, which I did...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Serenius did not dare to
be the one to make public the ideas expressed in the edited version of Chydenius’
memorial, but lector Anders Kraftman from Porvoo consented to do it, and the
memorial was presented in his name, though according to Chydenius he was
unaware of who had written it. If this statement is true, then some kind of
group was in action behind the scenes. The less known Chydenius hid or was
hidden behind a more experienced member of Diet. Serenius had been quite
correct in saying that it was forbidden to write about the nature of the state;
the constitution just had to be followed. In addition to the middle version the
final version of the memorial has been preserved. It was slightly shortened
compared to the interim version. This can be explained through Chydenius’
reference to passages removed by Serenius. From the final version has been removed
for example – in the words of Pertti Virrankoski – “all poisonous references to
absolute power of the Estates and their high-handed behaviour and the rights of
the citizens trampled by the magnates”. It certainly had not been wise to speak
in such a way about the powerful. One can ask whether Johan Arckenholtz could
be the one that caused Chydenius’ thought to radicalize still further.
Arckenholtz stayed in Stockholm during the spring of 176 from mid-February to
the end of May. The discussions between him and Chydenius must have taken place
during that period. Arckenholtz was exceedingly interested in matters of state.
In his memoirs Chydenius does not associate Arckenholtz with a similar
confrontation as Serenius, but neither does he specify his potential impact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We may assume that
Arckenholtz presented suggestions regarding the state in principle based on his
knowledge of Europe and especially of England, and likewise considerations
based on his personal experiences of suppression during the power of the Hats.
As we saw, Arckenholtz, an admirer of the political conditions in England, had
already in his manuscript on the interests of Sweden among the states of Europe
concluded that secrecy was a left-over from the times of absolute monarchy.
There<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">is nothing to suggest
that Arckenholtz who abided firmly by his stances changed his mind about this.
In the preparations for the Freedom of the Press Act England was repeatedly
posited as a model. It was undoubtedly an idealized paradigm, yet not without
reason, if one compared the conditions in different countries. Similar
references occurred in numerous places in Europe. A clear image of the
exemplary character of Britain, certainly corresponding to Arckenholtz’
thinking, is presented in the interim report of the Committee on the Freedom of
the Press: “All states have experienced the fundamental benefit of such
freedom, and England, that has shed blood to guarantee it, counts it among the
most precious bulwarks of its constitution.” Arckenholtz was exactly the kind
of person, who was qualified and had a motive to convince Chydenius that
instead of China he should look to England.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">He could also give
advice where significant documents could be found. He had in his time been
responsible for the documents of the Chancellery, and had spent the major part
of his later life seeking, gathering, organizing and publishing historical
documents. Since no documents about foreign policy of Sweden could be published
in Sweden, Arckenholtz had, under the name of one of his likeminded friends,
published<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">them in the promised
land of forbidden books during Enlightenment, the Netherlands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Arckenholtz was bitter
at having had to be the first to suffer an attack from those opposing the
moderate foreign policy of Arvid Horn, had lost his office and later finally
became a political exile to Kassel, even if as a librarian to the Duke, who at
that time was the King of Sweden. He was seeking recompense, in practice a
retirement allowance, of which the downfall of the power of the Hats gave him
hope. He was oppressed by his “misfortunes”, as it was said, to the extent that
it is impossible to imagine that he would not have unburdened his mind about
them to the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">young Chydenius even
under the new situation. Talk of the behaviour of the Estates and oppression of
civil rights sounds very much like the agony of Arckenholtz. But it is hardly
justifiable to claim that Arckenholtz is the source for the most important
emphasis of the memorial by Chydenius, the vision of the free competition
between differently minded writers as a method for reaching the truth.
Chydenius believed such a method had been in existence in China, and he thought
it efficient under all conditions, forgetting China’s absolute monarchy.
Emphasis on this critical method of finding the truth was what most clearly
separated Chydenius from the previous<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">conception of political
publicity as information meant to firmly establish the power of the Estates,
propaganda for the Diet. The solution advocated by Nordencrantz would only have
strengthened the power of the estates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This fundamental idea in
Chydenius’ memorial has been ignored in various later commentaries. It has been
discussed who would be held responsible in the case of an offence of the
Freedom of the Press Act, the publisher or the author. During the discussion
Chydenius shifted his stand from the responsibility of the former to the
latter, but from the beginning he regarded both options. Chydenius thought that
in England the responsibility was the printer’s, and therefore supported such a
solution at the outset. However, the crucial issue, the main goal of the
freedom of the press was according to Chydenius something else. He formulated
it by saying that freedom in these matters gave birth to “the competition of
the pens”. This had to be encouraged. Its impact was most precious: “No
fortress can be praised more than the one that has endured the hardest sieges.
If the goal is unclear, then truth must be sought through<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the exchange of
writings. [...] False writings shame their authors but profit the nation in
that truth is argued for and embedded more deeply.” Chydenius defended the
seeking of truth through statements of different standpoints, through “the
exchange of writings”. The statements that had endured the hardest critique would
be the strongest. This reminds us of the spokesman for an Open Society in the
Twentieth Century, Karl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Popper, and his doctrine
of the strengthening of scientific hypotheses caused by the attempts to prove
them false, “corroboration” as he said. Chydenius’ argument was a remarkable
insight. Though today we may understand that politics cannot be reduced to
knowledge, but presupposes various values and goals, the value of critically
evaluated knowledge for politics will in no way loose its weight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Three Memorials by
Different Authors</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">While writing detailed
pamphlets about the freedom of trade Chydenius had, because of his position at
the Diet, been given permission to study old documents, often containing
surprises and significant for formulations of standpoints. Probably this manner
of working had a part in paving the way to a demand of publicity of official
documents. Three memorials were presented to the Estates as the freedom of
press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">was taken into scrutiny
in the spring of 176 . The first two were made by Historian of the Realm Anders
Schönberg and Ensign of Artillery Gustaf Cederström, both the middle of May.
The third and last a month later was Chydenius’ presentation. Of these three
only Chydenius would participate directly in the preparation of the Freedom of
Press Act. Schönberg gave detailed arguments about everything that should be
banned, but this was not the main point. Schönberg’s memorial repeated the one
he had presented to the previous Diet. It dealt with the publication of
official documents widely and in a positive tone. Already the Hats had begun
publishing the documents of the Diet, although restrictedly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Their aim was not to
forward freedom of opinion and critical debate, but to spread knowledge about
the fruits of their power and thus strengthen their position. This practice did
also not originate in the Freedom of the Press Act, but it was in contrary a
part of the development leading to it. Despite the seemingly liberal stand of
his memorial Schönberg spoke for censorship. Cederström for his part suggested
a whole new idea, a kind of voluntary advisory censorship. Like Schönberg he
too presented a long list of documents that should be allowed to be published.
Chydenius was the only one to demand the complete abolition of political
censorship in general. It was Chydenius’ programme that would be realized in
the famous Freedom of the Press Act of 1766. It must be said that the programme
was not presented in full in the memorial to the Estates by Chydenius. It was
significantly completed in the later work of the Committee, which made it so
uniquely all-encompassing. It is evident that other people and not just one
person had an impact on the final formulation of the law and in general on its
birth, as is customary to a Diet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The preceding discussion
from the previous Diet to the present one had dealt only with the right to
publish more freely, and not with the complete abolition of political
censorship. A substantial and exceptional new idea was called for. Chydenius
had precisely one that would serve: the competition of pens. It was a method
that would bring out the truth by itself. Nobody could stand above it to
regulate its course. A unique feature of the Swedish Act, in addition to the
freedom of writing and printing, was the freedom of access to public documents,
the citizens’ right to have information about documents the public officials
had in their keeping. Highly significant too was the positioning of this right
as primary and leaving of the necessary restrictions to a secondary position.
Such an order of importance is proper to all subsequent laws on<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">freedom of information.
It is still a valid principle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Originally this idea did
not come from Chydenius. When the Caps gained central positions several people
suggested publishing the documents concerning the Diet. It was considered
necessary for gaining general confidence and deflecting suspicions. The general
motives did not much differ from those that the Hats had had previously. Such
motives of course would differ according to who felt or thought their policies
have been successful or could at least trust in their success. It had become
the 6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">habit that during the
Diet information about it was published and censorship was more moderate than
at other times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It was debated whether
the records making public all discussions ought to be published, or just the
specific memorials produced over different issues. One argument against the
publishing of the records was for instance that the Diet members had greater
freedom of expressing their opinions, if it were known that the records would
not be made public. In his speech concerning the issue in the Great Committee
Chydenius had on April 176 declared unequivocally that both records and
memorials ought to be freely published. He defended this view on several
instances. It was in accordance with his view about the necessity to regulate
the Diet, which he did not see as a body of absolute power. However, the result
was then, contrary to Chydenius’ view, that only the memorials would be published,
not the records. This early speech proves that quite soon after the Diet had
commenced Chydenius sustained an extensive publicity of official documents, at
least as concerned the Diet, but at that<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">date he apparently did
not yet connect the issue with the freedom of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">printing in general.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Anders Schönberg Gives a
Formulation for the Freedom of Information</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The memorial by Anders
Schönberg, a Hat, had been prepared during the previous Diet of 1760-1762 in a
committee set by the Great Committee of the Estates. Despite approving of
retaining censorship and listing prohibitions, the memorial defended an
extensive publicity of official documents. From the perspective of the history
of ideas it is a significant document, because it presents the principle of the
freedom of information in a clear cut form. Another matter is that during the
previous Diet governed by the Hats the delicate matter of freedom of press was
altogether abandoned, including the principle of publicity that had been
drafted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">What did Schönberg’s
memorial, the basis for what came later, contain? Firstly it dealt with
publishing documents of trials: “Once any documents, judgments or records of
any description have been issued, whether in earlier or more recent times, by
any courts of law, government departments, consistories or other public bodies,
the Committee finds no reason to ban their printing as they stand, with no
other examination beyond their being reported to the censor, who is then
obliged to subscribe his name to them, in so far as no censorship can alter a
legally issued document. It should be possible to remove only what relates to
serious, less familiar crimes or anything else that is not entirely consistent
with decency”. It would not be necessary to print everything that had been
brought up during a process. From an exchange of submissions however, the
submissions of both parties to the court of law should be printed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Contrary to the royal
letter from 17 that had been the foundation for the former practice, the
memorial proposed that it would be useful “if all votes are disclosed together
with the names of the voters, both when votes are reported to the Crown
by the court of appeal and the major government departments in accordance
with chapter 0, § of the Code of Judicial Procedure and when one party, or
whoever it may be, in any court of law, government departments or any public
body, requests the release of the voting record or of reports by public
officials concerning rights of individuals, which the Committee believes may
then safely be printed;” A restriction as in previous times would regard only
the highest power: “... it does, however, make an exception for the votes in
the Council of the Realm, which are scrutinised only by the Estates of the
Realm...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The memorial thought
that publicity would promote the attention of the public officials and judges
making their decisions, likewise the education of public officials: “…that
hereby the inestimable benefit will be obtained that none but mature and
competent men would apply for such offices in which the rights of a citizen are
put to the test, when it will not be so easy to fell under the influence of an
ill-considered voice as it might be when it is concealed under an injurious
silence...” Anders Schönberg’s memorial went even further: “The Committee
further considers it to be necessary to allow the printing of all the official
correspondence, judgments and verdicts, resolutions, edicts, instructions,
statutes, regulations and privileges, of whatever kind or nature they may be,
from the Crown, appeal courts, government departments and public officials;
likewise all the memorials, applications, projects, proposals and the like
submitted by private persons or individual societies and public<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">bodies to the Crown or
the Estates of the Realm, to the appeal court, government departments and state
officials, as well as all reports, projects, official proposals, appeals
against and responses to these, as also all accounts of parliamentary
proceedings submitted by the officials to the Crown or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the Estates of the Realm
and all the verifiable activities of and duties performed by officials, lawful
as well as unlawful, with what occurred in connection with them, beneficial or
deleterious. In short, whatever is not contrary to the basic rules
outlined above for the censorship should be allowed to be printed subject to
the appropriate censorship.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The breathtaking list
continues about printing the documents of the Diet: ”...the Committee has not,
however, felt able to recommend a ban on the printing of the resolutions issued
by the respective Estates and of the protocols and reports of the committees;
nor does the Committee find that there is any obstacle to the printing of
parliamentary memorials, once the secretary of the Estate has certified by his
signature that they have been read to the Estate and that the author of the
memorial has either received the permission of his Estate to present the
memorial to the other Estates, or that the memorial has been approved outright
or referred to some committee.” However, an important restriction ensued: “The
Committee likewise recommends that all documents and papers that are produced
during sessions of Diet and that provide useful information may be printed, as
they should not be kept secret and concealed, although the signature of the
Censor is required in all such cases...” Even though a document concerning the
Diet would not be defined a secret one, it had to provide “useful information” and
have the approval of the Censor. In other words,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">it remained the task of
the Censor to decide on the basis of directions received what was useful. In
practice this left the censor unlimited possibilities of political power. The
memorial did not take the stand that publishing opposing standpoints could be
useful. Schönberg’s memorial saw no contradiction between publicity of official
documents and preserving the Office of the Censor. The silent precondition
seems to have been that the persons who prepared the memorial who had long been
accustomed to the power of the Hats could not imagine a situation where
radically different and contradictory standpoints would struggle for the favour
of public opinion. They could not comprehend it as a method of seeking the
truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">If openness, on the
contrary, were to be realized as a method of “seeking the truth”, what would
there be left to do for censorship? Chydenius’ answer was unequivocal: nothing.
The specific Office of the Censor and censorship by political officials in
general should be abolished, as Chydenius claimed had been done in England.
Neither freedom of the press nor the principle of publicity were as such
invented by Chydenius, but it was his action during the Diet that was central
to having these reforms realized and to giving them their final form. It was
all about much more than presenting good arguments and the approval they
received. A factor in the approval was that the Chancellery had long had
problems keeping up censorship. The outcome<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of course presupposed a
change in the political relations of power, the Caps winning the elections, new
modes of thinking and new coalitions of people within the Caps. There were also
some incidental happenings that proved lucky for Chydenius and affected the result.
The heritage concerning the publicity of official documents could be termed as
a tight knot, which Chydenius opened with one stroke directed at censorship.
His conclusion was namely that the publicity of official documents that
depended on political censorship would be no publicity at all. Freedom and
constraint could not be united.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Final Decisions:
Freedom of Information without Censorship</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Chydenius believed that
the people ought to be able to regulate the Diet and its representatives in it.
Therefore a free state required a wide foundation of knowledge. The majority of
the nation should be able to settle matters in light of its enlightenment. It
was not just a question of the freedom of an assembly of the Estates, but a
deeper issue of civic freedom and the enlightenment it presupposed. These could
be brought about by publicity, not by a censor’s judgement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">On 26 August 176 the
Great Committee set up a specific Committee to look into the Freedom of the
Press, and Chydenius was appointed one of its members. The Committee acquired
all memorials on the freedom of the press and investigated its history. If not
before, then at this stage the whole range of the freedom of information must
have become clear to Chydenius. It corresponded fully with the ways of thinking
he had already adopted, wherefore he became its most consistent speaker and
writer. Having discussed the restrictions necessary for freedom of press the
Committee made a declaration at the end of the same year, 9 December 176 ,
about the publicity of official documents, or as Pentti Virrankoski has
summarized it: “All decisions, proposals and edicts by Committees and High
Courts, not to mention the lower instances, could be published freely, and
citizens ought to have an access to archives and copy them if they wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Likewise, records by all
offices, even the Council of the Realm itself, and furthermore all documents
presented at courts of law, though regarding these some privacy of individual
persons was to be respected. It was even proposed that public officials ought
to hand over the documents for publication or they could be dismissed. “It
ought to be possible to make comments and proposals concerning all laws and
other statutes, whether these had been passed or were just being drafted. It
should also be permitted to write about foreign policy, and all treaties made
with foreign powers ought to be public, unless they had specifically been
declared secret. It should be possible to freely publish and comment on the
history of the state, both national and in general.” It was clear that
publicity should be primary, and that what remained secret was to be a
secondary exception. That is what the principle of publicity is all about. Not
even the Council of the Realm, that is the government, was left outside the
general principle of publicity. Even though many demands were the same that had
been presented during the previous Diet but left unrealized, the policy had
become more resolute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Prohibiting secrecy at
the peril of dismissal was an unheard of means, and unheard of was also
interfering with the world of secrecy that had covered diplomacy through the
ages. At the next meetings, held during December, Chydenius acted as the
Committee’s secretary. The Committee proposed, again in the summarization by
Virrankoski: “...that the memorials presented to the Diets could be published
by the permission of the respective estate and the responsibility of the one
who drafted the memorial. The Committee furthermore wanted to make public the
reports of the Committees and the records of the Committees and meetings of the
Estates.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The example of England
proved also that publishing the documents of the Diet was an efficient way to
instruct those who attended the Diet for the first time. Furthermore, publicity
was the only means to check whether Diet members were promoting the well-being
of their electors and the Realm, because – in the words of Chydenius – “there
is no other way to make responsible those who have the highest power.” The
grand debate processed the interim report of the Committee of the Freedom of
Press, which contained the proposals, much later the next spring, on 7 March
1766. As was to be expected, there were doubts about the proposal leading to
control of the members of the Diet by their electors against constitution.
Chydenius managed to defend the interim report skilfully, and it was accepted
with a few reservations. The struggle Chydenius went through to get political
censorship abolished was complex and extremely close. The report Chydenius finally
drew up and dated 21 March 1766, ended up as the stand taken by the Committee
of the Freedom of Press. Censor Niklas von Oelreich who was heard as an expert
during the drafting did present a vision to preserve censorship on a new basis.
He admitted it was necessary to correct some failings and drafted a plan for a
whole new office with several officials who would control and regulate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">political writings
towards useful subjects, helping the authors in various questions beginning
even from problems with language. Chydenius responded politely, that giving up
the office of Censor von Oelreich would have even greater glory than Gilbert
Mabbott who resigned from a corresponding one in England in 16 9 and declared
it detrimental. The proposal of such a new office had patently a contrary
effect on the Committee of the Freedom of the Press than von Oelreich had
assumed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The arguments with which
he opposed the responsibility given to uneducated printers, the stand
previously taken by Chydenius, however must be considered significant.
Chydenius then changed his view so that if a work was found to contain criminal
material in a normal court of law, the responsibility was the author’s. At the
final presentation to the Great Committee on 7 August 1766 something surprising
came up. Baron Gustaf Reuterholm presented a tedious two and half hour defence
of political censorship. He managed to infuriate his audience so that they
turned against him, and the estate of the burghers could decide over the
subsequent procedure. When the proposal for an extensive freedom of press was
passed on in the name of the Great<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Committee to be processed
further, the assemblies of the Estates accepted it without objections. That was
all that the Swedish Parliament Act required. Even though Chydenius was
dismissed from the Diet because of presenting opinions concerning monetary
politics against the views of the Caps – the Freedom of the Press Act not yet
being effective – the stands he had drafted were presented to the Great
Committee and were inscribed into the Freedom of the Press Act which ensued on
2 December 1766. It is probable that the real reasons for the end of Chydenius’
first career in the Diet had to do with the Freedom of the Press Act, which
actually was against the will of the leading Caps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The freedom of
information must be regarded as a heritage of the earlier Diets, indeed from
the Hats, although unrealized and contradictory, combining the fire of openness
and the water of censorship, but now it was given a new approach. The principle
could become efficient only when combined with the abolition of political
censorship. Anders Chydenius’ work combines the two. It would seem that no
single ingredient of the Act was especially invented by Chydenius, but his mode
and zeal in combining the different ingredients produced something
unprecedented. The same can be said of his work for these principles during the
Diet, which resulted in the first Freedom of Information Act in history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In the last instance the
Act was given the firm protection of the constitution. In his foreword to the
China pamphlet Chydenius had spoken about freedom of expression as the “apple
of the eye of a constitution”, but it is not known who made the last minute
additions. This ascension in worth proved in fact fatal after some years, when
King Gustav III as a consequence of his 1772 coup abolished the old
Constitution. Despite the later, less strict versions of the Act, the Act of
1766 was to become an ineradicable part of development of consciousness of
justice and practices of publicity. Its place of honour in the constitutions
both of Sweden and later of independent Finland the Act regained through time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A Global World Needs
Openness</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Freedom of the Press
Act of 1766 was not a radical upheaval in practice. The writers were cautious,
as the responsibility was now theirs. There begun to appear a lot of writing
under pseudonyms, though more serious academic writers were slow to come out.
But the printers profited. Journals and political pamphlets flourished.
Political newspapers were born. The first Swedish daily newspapers began their
careers. Chydenius’</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Act was opening a new political publicity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Restrictions were soon
added to the Act. The first three articles defined what could not be
criticized: religious dogmas and constitution, the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Royal family, the Council of the Realm and the
Estates. In practice the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">threat of a suite of law was imminent for
instance because of the following</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">prohibition: “Let no one use public writing to make debasing
statements</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">about the crowned heads or their closest
relatives nor yet of the reigning foreign powers.” This was not what Chydenius
had in mind, however<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">much he may have
appreciated the Crown Prince.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The
impact of the law was also weakened. Some months after the Act</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">took effect there ensued a royal declaration and
caution about “spreading untruthful rumours”. Chydenius and various others had
considered</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the freedom of spoken word unlimited. For this
reason, they had paid no<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">attention to it. But the
situation was changing. As early as March 1767</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the Council of the Realm ruled by the Caps issued a ban not to
write too</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">freely about matters concerning government.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Restriction of spoken
statements revealed a problem of the law. Attention had only been paid to text,
either handwritten or printed. The Constitution of the United States would not
have this restriction, combining</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">directly the two issues: “the freedom of speech or of the press”.
What was</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ignored by the Constitution of the United States
was instead the Swedish</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">speciality, the freedom of information, the
openness of official documents.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">England
had been an example for Chydenius of the abolition the office of the censor. In
reality England developed a masterful censorship of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">mail independent of the law. A Freedom of
Information Act took effect</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in
law in the UK England as late as the beginning of 200 .</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The threads woven together by Chydenius have
experienced a series</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of reformations and restorations. Only the
openness revolution of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1990s
has made it globally irreversible, even if setbacks are a reality too.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It seems to be a historical process, which in a
restricted sense can be said</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to
have a direction, growing openness – though not as a definite goal,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">which evolution in general does not have. The
starting point is comprehensive secrecy, which little by little begins to open
disparate targets of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">democratic processes. “Full openness” is nevertheless
neither the goal of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the process nor possible. Openness always has
its opponents. Privacy, for</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">instance,
needs to be protected. Openness is a matter of ongoing struggle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In a global world
everybody begins to be in the same position as the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">curate from Alaveteli. Power is somewhere far
and its cores are shadowed</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">by
secrecy. More and more people realize that they need the kind of information
that Chydenius already had in his mind. The possibility to get it</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">freely, consider it and express one’s thoughts
without fear were, according</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to
Anders Chydenius, the preconditions for the wealth, stability and wellbeing of
nations.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">References to the literature concerning Anders
Chydenius are to be found on</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
home pages of the Anders Chydenius Foundation, <a href="http://www.chydenius.net/">www.chydenius.net</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Unfortunately, the most
extensive studies are not available in English. A critical</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">edition of Chydenius’ writings is in the process
of being edited, together with an</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">English translation of his main works. Thanks are due to Taina
Rajanti, Mark</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Waller and Peter Hogg for the English of the
present study.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="BN-BD" style="font-family: Vrinda; font-size: 17pt;">-------------------------------------</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;">FREEDOM</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;">OF INFORMATION</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;">TODAY</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Transparency at the core</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17.5pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">of democracy</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By
Leena Luhtanen</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The question of
transparency in government has lost none of its significance, although it dates
back as far as government itself. How much</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information can decision-makers entrust citizens with? The answer
on</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">this relates directly to the basic constituents
of any political entity. In a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">modern
society decision-making must be based on the political will of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">enlightened citizens, which is expressed through
votes and elections. In</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">such a society transparency should be the rule
and secrecy the exception.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Citizens
should be entrusted with as much access to information as possible.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The right of access to public information has
its roots in the 18<sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">century. The title of a founding father may rightly be bestowed
upon the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Finnish priest Antti Chydenius. As a member of
the Swedish Parliament</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">from 176 onward, he was the initiator of the
Freedom of Press and the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Right of Access to Public Records Act. At the
time Finland was still part</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of
the Kingdom of Sweden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Swedish example was
later followed by the United States’ Constitution. The right to freedom of
expression entered into the Constitution</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">with the First Amendment in 1789. The focus was, however, rather
on</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the freedom of press than on access to public
information as a citizens’</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">right.
In the US, the Freedom of Information Act was introduced in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1966, and today almost all European countries
have such an Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In the EU, major steps
towards open government were taken in the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1990s. A big step forward was the Charter of Fundamental Rights of
the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">European Union in 2000. The Charter includes
both freedom of expression and the right of access to documents. In 2001 the
first regulation on</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">access to documents was adopted.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Nordic countries are internationally
regarded as forerunners in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">questions
of transparency and openness. Therefore it was only logical</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">for the Finnish Presidency of the European Union
in 2006 to put special Minister of Justice of Finland,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Leena Luhtanen, presided over the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">EU Council in Justice
Affairs</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">during the Finnish EU Presidency</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in the latter half of 2006.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">emphasis on the transparency of the EU. Public
discussion has largely focussed on whether or not all legislative
decision-making should be carried</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">out in public. However, the access to documents and an efficient
information policy are just as important for making legislation and the
legislative</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">process more transparent and understandable to
the European Union’s</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">citizens.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">To this end, the Finnish presidency started implementing the new</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">overall policy on transparency, which had been
adopted by the European</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Council in June 2006. Consequently, the openness
of legislative decision-making has been significantly increased. Altogether
about half of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">all debates between ministers in the EU Council
are now held in public.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Web streaming technology enables all citizens
and the media to follow</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">such proceedings through the internet from
wherever they are. Furthermore, all documents discussed by ministers in public
proceedings are also</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">made available on-line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The transparency of
government is a core issue of the democracy</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">principle and a precondition for bringing any government closer to
its</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">citizens. If a government does not trust its
citizens, how can one expect</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
citizens to trust their government? The same applies to the European</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Union and is therefore one of the main
priorities of Finland’s EU policy</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">during and beyond the 2006 presidency. Openness and Access<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to Information in
Finland</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">By Olli Mäenpää<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1. Right of Access</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1.1. Tradition and
Reform</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The principle of access
to government documents has a longstanding</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">tradition in Finnish law dating back to a constitutional enactment
of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1776 when Finland was under Swedish rule (the
Act on the Freedom of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Publishing and the Right of Access to Official
Documents). While it is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">true
that this constitutional principle of openness has been interpreted</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and applied in a varied manner, narrowly and
less narrowly, the principle itself has prevailed over the centuries, albeit
without the support of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">detailed legislation governing access to
government information. Today,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">detailed rules governing access to administrative documents are
laid down</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in the Act on the Openness of Government
Activities of 1999. The Act</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">is
based on the principle of general access to official documents, denoting</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">an assumption of openness.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The era of modern, comprehensive access
legislation cannot, however,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">be
said to have been formally initiated until in 19 2 when a first act on</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">access to documents in public administration was
adopted. This Act was</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">expressly based on the presumption of openness
and it also provided for a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">general
statutory right of free access to official administrative and judicial</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">documents. Under this first Act, exempt
from free access were secret and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">internal documents while access to draft documents could be
obtained at</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the discretion of the authority. The 19 2
Act was amended several times<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to include provisions
granting the party in administrative proceedings</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">broader access, and also in order to update the concept of
document to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">cover other than paper documents.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Gradually criticism of the first act grew. This
was for a number of reasons: the grounds of secrecy were defined quite broadly
leaving plenty of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">lee-way for the authorities to apply them in a
secretive fashion; openness of the preparatory stages of decision-making
procedure was considered</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">unsatisfactory because the grant of access to
draft documents was discretionary; transparency of issues related to EU
decision-making was limited;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
concept of an official document had failed short of the development</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of information technology; the accommodation of
privacy with openness</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">was vaguely regulated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">These and similar
reasons led to the project of reforming the access</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">legislation. A constitutional reform and update
of the basic rights catalogue in 199 gave additional impetus to the ongoing
drafting of a completely new law. In this reform, access to
administrative documents was</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">defined
as a fundamental constitutional right and openness consequently</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">gained the status of a constitutional principle.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The draft bill to reform legislation regulating
access to governmentheld information was based on an intensive preparation in
which an</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">accommodation of basically two competing
concerns proved to be crucial.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">On
the one hand, the principle of general access to information should</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">be defined clearly and so that it would also be
easy to make the principle</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">function
effectively in practice. On the other, the drafters had to consider
strong opinions quite unfavourable to increased openness. Among the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">proponents of a narrower concept of openness
were several Government</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">departments and the Central Bank. They
insisted on limiting the applicability of the access legislation mainly by
defining the grounds of secrecy</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">more
extensively.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The accommodation of these two (there were
others, to be sure)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">leading considerations found a less satisfactory
result in the text of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The author, Olli</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Mäenpää, is a professor of administrative</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">law at the University</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of Helsinki, and is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">one of the leading</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">experts in Finland</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">on
access to information. draft law. Consequently, it was subjected to strong
criticism in Parliament. One of the main points in the parliamentary
criticism was that</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the grounds of secrecy were far too open-ended
and that no compelling</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">reasons could support narrowing openness as much
as was proposed. A</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">broadly defined catalogue of grounds of secrecy
could also jeopardize the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">public nature of judicial proceedings. A further
point voiced in Parliament’s deliberations emphasized the constitutional right
of access and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">insisted that the discretionary powers of the
authority should be more</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">expressly constrained in all cases where the
result could be a negative<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">answer to a request to
gain access.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As a result of the
comprehensive critique, Parliament decided to make</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">considerable amendments to the bill. For
instance, a majority of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">provisions
concerning secrecy were actually rewritten in a more exact</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">way. All the amendments had the objective
of giving more precision to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
provisions of the Act and extending the scope of openness. In this</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">respect, the alterations were clear
improvements. However, some provisions still remain open to considerably
differing interpretations and the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">structure of the Act is rather complicated which is unlikely to
facilitate</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">its application.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1.2. Principle of
general access to information</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">held
by public authorities</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The right of access to official documents is
included as a fundamental</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">right in the new Constitution Act of 1999.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Section 12(2) lays
down the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">principle of openness and the right of access to
government documents:</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">”The documents and other records in the
possession of public authorities shall be public unless their publicity has
been separately restricted byAct of Parliament for compelling reasons. Everyone
shall have the right</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to obtain information from public documents and
records.”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Judicially, and particularly from the point of
view of the normative</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">hierarchy, it is significant that the principle
of open access to administrative and judicial documents has been defined as a
basic constitutional</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">right and not merely an interpretative
principle. Access to government<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">held information in a
recorded form enjoys a constitutional status. Right</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of access may thus be invoked by anyone
regardless of citizenship or the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> The text of the Constitution Act can be found at
www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/ 999/</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">en19990731.pdf. The provision cited in the text was
initially included in the (old)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Constitution in 1995.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">purpose for which that right is exercised.
Since access to documents and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">other records is a basic right it also takes precedence over
ordinary legislation. For instance, if the application of a statute were
in evident conflict</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">with the access right, the access provision in
the Constitution would be</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">given primacy in judicial proceedings concerning
that application.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Together with the guarantees of freedom of
expression and freedom</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of information in Sec. 12(1) Constitution Act,
the access right forms a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">vital component of an open government. An
additional stimulus to a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">functioning access legislation is found in
Section 1 ( ) of the Constitution Act defining a positive obligation on the
administrative authorities</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to
promote openness: ”It shall be the task of public authorities to promote
the opportunities of the individual to participate in the activities of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">society and to influence decision-making
affecting him.”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The right of free access to administrative
documents forms one of the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">most significant
guarantees of the transparency and openness of public administration. Detailed
rules governing access to administrative documents</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">are laid down in the Act on the Openness of
Government Activities of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1999 (Openness Act).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> According to the
general principle stipulated in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Section
1 of the Openness Act, all official documents shall be public, unless
specifically otherwise provided in this Act or another Act.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Openness Act also sets out the objectives of
its application.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Section lists as the goals promotion of openness
and good practice on</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information management, the provision to private
individuals and corporations of an opportunity to monitor and influence the
exercise of public</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">authority, to observe the use of public
resources, to freely form an opinion, and to protect their rights and interest.
The list is intended to serve</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">as more than a mere declaration of good intentions. It must be
taken<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">seriously because,
pursuant to Section 17, the authorities are duty bound</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to take the list into consideration when making
any decision under the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Openness Act. The objectives of the Act,
consequently, are meant to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">inform
all instances of its application.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1.3. Obligation to
promote openness</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Under the Openness Act
the authorities have not only the duty to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">respond to requests for access, they have also an active
obligation to provide information and promote openness. There are several
provisions to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The text of the Act in English can be
found at www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/ 999/</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">en19990621.pdf</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">this
effect in the Act. The authorities must actively produce and disseminate
information on their activities. For this purpose they must produce</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">guides, statistics and other publications, as
well as information materials</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">on
their services and practices and on the social conditions and developments in
their field of competence (Sec. 20). The authorities must also</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ensure the availability of this information by
making it available in libraries and on the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Good practice on
information management is a new concept denoting</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the obligation to see to the appropriate availability, usability,
protection,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">integrity and other matters of quality
pertaining to documents and information management systems (Sec. 18). An
element of the good practice</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">is
the obligation to arrange the documents, information management and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">data systems in a manner that facilitates the
operation of the openness</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">principle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2. Scope of Application</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2.1. Information</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Openness Act
contains provisions on the general right of access to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">official information and how this right is
exercised in practice. In addition, it defines active duties of the authorities
to promote access to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information and good practice on information
management. A considerable part of the Act is devoted to defining the grounds
of official secrecy,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the official’s duty of non-disclosure, and other
restrictions of access that</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">are
considered necessary for the protection of public or private interests. An
important safeguard of access is the comprehensive reviewability of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">decisions taken pursuant to the Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Openness Act takes
the mid-road with regard to its applicability to information. Basically,
it guarantees access to government-held</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information to the extent it is documented or stored while the
restrictions of access extend to cover even undocumented information. The Act</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">thus defines primarily access to official
documents and the information</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">contained
therein. Government-held information as such, irrespective</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of whether it is stored or documented, comes
under the scope of the law</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">mainly
pursuant to provisions concerning non-disclosure and promotion</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of openness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2.2. Documents</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The right of access is
applicable to a variety of documents regardless of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">their external configuration and manner of
storage. Since the use of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">term
document is not restricted to written texts or pictures only, the Act is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">applicable even to information stored in a
specific form such as electronic</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">documents, data disks and files, tapes as well as visual
presentations, maps</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and x-ray pictures. A recording is
considered a document even if it can</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">be comprehended only by means of technical aids. The same
applies</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to any message that can be deciphered only by
means of a computer, an<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">audio or video recorder
or some other technical device.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2.3. Administrative
bodies</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">With respect to the
organization of the administrative entities, the scope</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of application of the Openness Act is fairly
wide. It comprises all state,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">regional and municipal authorities as well as judicial bodies;
e.g. ministries, administrative authorities, courts, tribunals and
representative</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">bodies. Access to Parliament documents is
regulated solely in the Constitution, however.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In a rapidly transforming environment of public administration it
is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">important that access to information is extended
also to semi-public organizations to the extent that they perform public
functions. The solution</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to this consideration is twofold. First, the
application of the Openness</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Act
extends to formally private bodies such as corporations, associations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and foundations to the
extent that they are authorized to exercise public</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">authority. For instance, a private undertaking
may be authorized to register</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and
inspect motor vehicles. These activities are considered to constitute</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">an exercise of public authority and thus the
Openness Act is applicable</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to
the performance of such functions. Second, the access rule also applies to
bodies undertaking public duties under express commission if the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">commission contract is concluded with a public
subject. As a result, the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">new
Act is applicable for instance, to a private nursing home or a private</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">care institution for the elderly to the extent
it undertakes a commissioned</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">municipal
task.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The extension of the scope of the Act to private
bodies implies that</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">most of the indirect public administration comes
under the application</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of the access rules. For the sake of
exactness, it should be added that a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">private body does not fall under the scope of the Act simply due
to the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">fact that it is owned by the state or a
municipality or because it receivespublic subsidies or operates under the
supervision of a public authority. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Thus, for instance, a
municipal corporation will not escape the principle</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of public access to the extent it is vested with
any public authority or</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">when it performs a commissioned public task.
The same can be said of an</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">association receiving state funding and a company licensed to
operate in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">a regulated field of economic activity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2.4. Official documents</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">For a document to be
qualified as public and generally accessible, it must</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">be prepared by or delivered to a public
authority and be in the possession</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of that authority. This definition means that both documents
issued by</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">an authority and documents received by it count
as official. Even an initially private document thus becomes an official
document once a public</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">authority has duly received it. As a rule,
it is the recipient authority that</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">decides, by applying the Openness Act, whether access can be
granted to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">an official document. The grounds of secrecy
protecting personal integrity, vital professional and economic interests and
the ability of the State to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">participate
in international co-operation govern the balance of interests</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in this respect.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Since the official documents and the right of access to them are
defined exclusively by the Openness Act, the sender has no power to bind</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the authority in this respect by requiring
confidential treatment or by</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">making
similar reservations. For the same reason, derogations from accessibility
cannot be based on contractual arrangements. Similar rules apply</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to documents emanating from other states and
international organizations such as the EU.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">3. Preparatory documents</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In day-to-day
administrative practice official documents under preparation, in the process of
being drafted or otherwise incomplete constitute</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">an important category. Because of their formal
incompleteness, internal</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">character, or preliminary nature they will not
be generally accessible until</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
issue in question has been decided. As a consequence of such a deferral,
preparatory documents will be subject to the right of access at the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">latest after the decision is made (Sec. 6).</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This rule applies also to internal documents
such as outlines, aides-mémoire and other memoranda drawn up by a public
official. A small group</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of preparatory documents may still remain
inaccessible under the Openness Act. This group includes notes kept by an
individual official, drafts, which have not yet been released for presentation
of other consideration,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and internal communications unless they contain
information that must<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">be archived. The
group is expected to remain limited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The reason for the
special status of preparatory documents has traditionally been a presumed need
to ensure the undisturbed functioning of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the administration and the requirements of confidentiality. That
kind</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of deference for purely administrative
considerations has lost most of its</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">justification over time, since it is just the preparatory
documents that are</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">significant for the general monitoring of
administrative activity and for</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">influencing
official action. After all, the outcome of an administrative</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">procedure will quite often be determined already
at the drafting stage.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In any case, there is an obvious tension between
these two conflicting arguments – the need to protect the confidentiality of
drafting decisions and the need to ensure sufficient openness at the
preparatory stage</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of decision-making. The new Act has
resolved this tension by a general</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">stipulation to the effect that an authority has been reserved
discretion to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">disclose a preparatory document before the
decision has been made (Sec.9), while the most important preparatory documents
are generally accessible when they have been completed.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Since it is at the discretion of the authority
to disclose a preparatory</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">document before the decision is taken, there is
no general right to obtain</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information
on it. In administrative practice draft documents are usually</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">disclosed relatively easily, but attitudes vary
concerning the dissemination<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of information at the
preparatory stage. For these reasons and in order</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to guarantee the operation of the openness
principle the Openness Act</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">introduces
three important constraints to the discretion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The first constraint
concerns studies, statistics, and other comparable</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">accounts if they contain information on the
alternatives, reasons and impacts pertaining to a project of general
importance. They will be public</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">as soon as they have accomplished their purpose of providing that
information. No discretion is thus left to the authority once such a study or</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">account has been completed. The second
constraint applies to the scope</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of
the discretion itself. Access to information in preparatory documents</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">may not be restricted unduly or any more than is
necessary to protect the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">interests in question; also the persons
requesting information must be</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">treated
equally. Third, the access legislation also includes an important</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">amendment of the Penal Code whereby the
disclosure of information</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in preparatory documents is decriminalized.
This amendment has as</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">its
specific purpose to encourage the authorities to participate in public debate
in their areas and also to facilitate the exchange of opinions at the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">preparatory stage.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The authorities also have a general duty to keep available
documents</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">on legislative reform projects and of pending
projects of general importance. On request, the authority must also
provide access to information</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">on
the stage of consideration, alternatives and impact assessments on</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">legislative and administrative projects of
general importance (Sec. 19).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">4. Gaining Access to an
Official Document</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">4.1. Presumption of
accessibility</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Since the Openness Act
is based on the presumption of openness, access</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to documents is the predominant rule, whereas secrecy is the
exception</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">that must in each case have an express legal
base. Everyone is presumed</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to have a general right to examine the contents of an official
document</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and obtain information contained therein,
subject only to exceptions</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">provided
in law. In addition, the exceptions must be construed narrowly.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In many cases it is possible that a document
contains both secrets (e.g.health data or commercial secrets) and public
information. Such a document is not considered completely but only partially
secret and the public</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information in it must be made available. When
only a part of a document is secret, access must be granted to the public part
of the document</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">if this is possible without disclosing the
secret part (Sec. 10). The authorities are also under an obligation to manage
their documents and data</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">systems so as to guarantee access to public
information without disclosing</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">secret
information. In this respect, the presumption of access extends</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">not just to the document as a whole but also to
the public information<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">contained therein. The
release of information is therefore assessed on a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“contents basis”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The access right extends
to Finnish citizens and foreigners without</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">distinction. No reason needs to be given when exercising this
right. In</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">fact, an authority is expressly forbidden to
demand verification either of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
identity of the person requesting information, or of the purpose of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information sought, unless knowledge of that
purpose is essential to the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">exercise
of discretion by the authority (Sec. 1 (1)). Such discretion may</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">be necessary if the document is secret and the
information contained in it</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">may
therefore be disclosed only to certain person or to limited groups of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">persons or for specific
purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">4.2. The procedure of
obtaining access</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">To obtain access to an
official document one must request it from the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">authority keeping the document or the official responsible for the
care of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the document. It is not necessary to be
able to give a detailed description of the document since the authority must
provide help in finding</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the document. This duty has its limits,
however. If the request does not</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">contain any specification of the document or fails to provide any
details</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of the information sought, the authority does
not have a duty to conduct</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">extensive
examinations or searches to locate the document or the information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">An individual may
exercise the right of access in several ways. The</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">person requesting an official document is entitled to obtain a
copy of it</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">for a fixed charge. Alternatively, the
person has the right to read the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">document and make a copy of it at the premises of the
administrative</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">body provided that the office space allows this
and it does not cause considerable incovenience. Access to a document must be
granted in the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">requested manner unless doing so would cause
unreasonable harm to the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">authority’s normal activities. In most cases,
the document itself is made</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">accessible
by allowing the individual to read and copy it on the premises</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of the authority or by supplying oral
information of its contents. The</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">minimum requirement for proper access is that the authority
supplies a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">copy or an official transcription of the
document requested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">If the document can be
read or apprehended only with the use of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">technical devices, the authority shall make necessary equipment
available</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">or provide a transcription. The applicant must
be given the appropriate</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">equipment for reading, seeing or hearing its
contents or otherwise retrieving information from it. Such arrangements
could, for instance, include</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">providing
access to a computer or the use of a CD-ROM reader. At the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">permission of the authority it is also possible
to have a copy of an EDP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">recording or to gain
direct electronic access to its database. Official registers of decisions
are generally accessible electronically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">4.3. Time limits</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A request must be
considered without delay, and access to an official</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">document shall be granted as soon as possible
(Sec. 1 (2)). In the established practice “without delay” has been
considered to allow a maximum</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of
a couple of workdays for assessing and processing ordinary requests for</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">access. Despite well-founded criticism
during Parliament’s deliberations,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the Openness Act approves of a considerably slacker procedure: in
any event access must be granted within two weeks from the arrival of the
request. If the number of the requested documents is large, if they
contain</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">secret parts or if the request otherwise
requires an irregular amount of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">work,
access must be provided within one month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">4.4. Guarantees of
access and remedies</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In cases where the right
to access has been denied by a public official,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">sufficient information must be provided of the reasons of the
refusal. The</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">individual who has requested the document may
also require that the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">official refer the matter to the authority in
question for a formal decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">That decision is always
reviewable in an administrative court. In addition, it should be noted that all
decisions taken pursuant to the Openness</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Act are reviewable. Thus subject to review are also decisions to
grant</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">access to e.g. a secret document.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The applicant or a directly interested party has
the right to make an</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">administrative appeal against the decision
according to the rules applicable to ordinary appeals against that authority.
The appeal would in most</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">cases be heard by an Administrative Court in the
first instance, while the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Supreme Administrative Court is the court of
last instance in all such</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">appeals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">5. Secret documents and
non-disclosure</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">5.1. Criteria of secrecy</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As such, the principle
of public access to official documents would require</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">that practically all documents produced or
received by the public administration be made generally available and that the
information held by</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">public officials could be disseminated without
restrictions. Such an extensive and limitless accessibility has been considered
unfeasible for various</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">reasons based on the need to protect legitimate
private and general interests. In order to accommodate such interests
access to official documents</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and
disclosure of information held by public authorities are subject to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">certain qualifications and limits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Section 12(2) of the
Constitution Act stipulates that a restriction</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to access is possible provided that it is based on compelling
grounds and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">has an express statutory basis in an enactment
by the Parliament. In the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Openness
Act the qualifications are defined in provisions determining the grounds of
official secrecy and defining the duty not to disclose confidential
information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">To protect such
legitimate interests as personal integrity, commercial</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">confidentiality and national security, access
has been restricted with</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">regard to information about e.g. issues falling
under the core areas of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">foreign policy, privacy, business secrets and
professional confidence. One</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">reason for restrictions is that the personal data obtained in the
course of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">government work need to be protected because of
its sensitivity. The<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">operations of
authorities can also not be wholly public in matters dealing</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">with national security or crime prevention.
These reasons account for</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
majority of express secrecy or confidentiality provisions. Furthermore,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">rapid advances in automatic data processing set
new demands on protection of privacy, currently being met by developing data
protection.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The list of the criteria of secrecy in Section 2
of the Openness Act is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">based on the following interests which may be
protected by keeping the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">official documents secret:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- personal integrity and
other important personal interests in health care, social services, taxation or
public supervision<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- protection of
private business interests<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- the economic
interests of the State and the municipalities<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- protection of
nature<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- prevention and
prosecution of crime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- safeguarding
judicial proceedings and data protection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- the security of
the state and its relations with foreign powers,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- defense
interests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">5.2. The grounds of
secrecy</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The most central grounds
of secrecy have been codified in Section</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Openness Act.</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> The section has
been divided into 2 paragraphs each</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">defining a separate ground of secrecy. This relatively
detailed regulation</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">has made it possible to repeal about 120
separate provisions on secrecy.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Still,
Section 2 is not exclusive since there remain a number of specific</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">provisions on secrecy in the material
legislation concerning such things</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">as taxation, health care, and social welfare. In addition,
there are duties</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of professional secrecy under other areas of
legislation regarding persons</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">who
are not in public office, such as advocates and physicians in private</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">practice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The grounds of secrecy
in Section 2 have been formulated following</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">three different methods. Mandatory secrecy is the strictest
and most comprehensive of these methods since its interpretation is independent
of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">case-by-case consequences of access. This method
has been particularly</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">used in the protection of privacy, personal
integrity, professional secrets</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">relating
to private business, national security and foreign policy documents. In
these cases the secrecy is absolute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The other two methods
are based on an evaluation of the possible</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">detrimental consequences of access. In the application of these
provisions the authority must always first consider whether and to what extent</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the disclosure would cause harm, injury or
damage to the interests protected by the secrecy provision. Parts of these
provisions are based on a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">presumption of accessibility: access must
be denied only if disclosure would</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">have adverse consequences. For instance, documents
concerning the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">relationship of Finland with international
organizations, such as the EU,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">are
secret if access to them could damage or compromise Finland’s international
relations or its ability to participate in international cooperation</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(Sec. 2 (2)).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Another part of the
provisions are based on a presumption of secrecy:</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">access to the document may be granted only if there manifestly
will be no</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">such consequences. For instance, the
documents of the security police are</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">secret, unless it is obvious that access will not compromise State
security</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(Sec. 2 (9)). Accordingly, access to these
documents may be refused</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">only provided that such harmful consequences are
likely to take place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This means that there
must be very good and weighty reasons for gaining</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">access to the security documents, but secrecy is not considered to
be total.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Since documents are regarded as secret only if
and to the extent this is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">separately provided for in an Act of Parliament,
no particular procedure</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of classification (or de-classification) is
necessary, nor is it performed in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">actual practice. Any document can thus be declared secret by law
and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">secret is the only category of restrictions of
access. Public authorities or</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">officials,
on the other hand, lack an independent power of assigning secrecy to official
documents. Instead, it is their duty, applying the relevant</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">legislative provisions, to determine whether an
official document may be</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">supplied or whether it is to be kept secret
pursuant to the relevant provisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">5.3. Duty of
non-disclosure</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Public officials are
under the duty not to disclose to any unauthorized</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">person a secret document or information
contained in it or to make an</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">official
document available in any other way. That obligation extends also to
information, which has been proclaimed confidential by a superior</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">official or body pursuant to an express
provision in an Act of Parliament.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The duty not to disclose confidential information is binding on
public</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">officials even after leaving the service. The
wrongful disclosure of a secret</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">document
or confidential information is subject to criminal liability.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Provisions imposing penalties for such offences
are contained in the Penal</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Code
(Chapter 0, Section 6).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Inside the public
administration, secrecy means that information may</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">not be made available to other authorities.
Secrecy also applies within an</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">authority,
especially between functionally different operational units or</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">branches of the authority. Authorities or public
officials are not entitled</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to
share secret documents and confidential information solely on the basis</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of imperative reasons requiring disclosure.
Disclosure of secret documents</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">within the administration to other administrative branches as well
as</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">sharing of secret information between
authorities is usually possible only</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">pursuant to an express legislative provision. The consent of
the concerned person may also make such information sharing possible (Sec. 29).</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Even official secrecy fails to remain
unconditional and absolute. Secret</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ocuments and confidential information may be disclosed in certain
cases,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to qualified recipients, and under specific
circumstances. The most important of such exceptions are made to guarantee
procedural rights and especially in order to satisfy the maxim ‘audi alteram
partem’. In other cases</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the authority holding a secret may provide
access to it if there is a specific</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">provision on such access or in an Act, or the person whose
interests are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">protected by the secrecy
provision consents to the access (Sec. 26).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">6. Openness of the
Administrative Procedure</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The principle that the
meetings of elected decision-making bodies shall</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">be open to the general public may be derived from Section 21 of
the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Constitution Act. In administrative
procedure the principle applies especially in municipal administration.
According to Section 7 Municipal</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Act (1996) the meetings of the directly elected municipal council
that</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">exercises the decision-making powers of the
municipality, shall be held</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in
public. It is only in exceptional cases that the municipal council may</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">meet behind closed doors. The other municipal
bodies may decide to hold</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">open meetings but in general their meetings are
not open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The meetings of the
Council of State and other state authorities are</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">generally held behind closed doors but public hearings may be
arranged</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">whenever the case is of interest to a larger
group of people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">7. The party’s access to
case documents</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">According to the
principle of public access to administrative documents</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">laid down in the Constitution Act, documents
kept by an authority are</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">public which denotes for everyone the right to
obtain information from</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">public documents and records. By
definition such documents are accessible to all, including the party in the
administrative procedure. What</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">makes the party’s access specific, however, is that it is
potentially wider</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">than the general right of access. Secret,
confidential and draft documents</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">may also fall within the purview of ‘access to parties’, in which
case the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">parties concerned are
allowed more extensive access to the documents</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">than the general public. Parties in an administrative procedure
may have</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">access even to a secret document if it either
actually has affected or may</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">affect
the outcome of the procedure.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The
justification for the wider access rights of a party lies in the significance
of the right to be heard. The party should basically be entitled</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to unrestricted insight into the material the
administrative authority may</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">deal
with and use as the basis for its conclusions. Wider access enables</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the party both to defend his or her rights and
to simultaneously ascertain</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">that
the case is being handled in a fair and objective manner. Despite</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the importance attaching to the party’s wider
access, in administrative</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">matters the access right are not unconditional
and the relevant authority enjoys a fairly wide margin of discretion in
determining whether the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">disclosure to a party is necessary or possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The basic rule of the
party’s wider right to insight is laid down in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Sec. 11 of the Openness Act. Sec. 11(1) provides quite
broadly that an</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">applicant, appellant and anyone whose right,
interest or obligation in a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">matter
is concerned (a party) is entitled to have access to the contents of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">a document even though the document is not
public, if those contents</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">may be or may have been of influence in the
consideration of his/her case.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The
scope of application of this generous rule is subject to a number of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">limitations, however. A party may be denied
access to a document in an</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">dministrative
procedure e.g. if the disclosure of that document would</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">adversely affect a very important public or
private interest. Access may</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">also
be denied to the presentation memorandum and the proposal for the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">decision until the case has been resolved by the
authority. These limitations notwithstanding, the party is always entitled to
access to the decision taken in his or her case.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Even though the limitations to the party’s access to the documents</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in the file are worded broadly the authorities
must construe and apply the exceptions narrowly. There are two main
reasons for this rule of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">interpretation. First, the limits on party’s
access constitute an exception</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to
the right to be heard laid down as a basic constitutional right. Since</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the authorities must choose the interpretation,
which in a given case is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">most conducive to the attainment of the goals of
a basic rights provision,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">limited application of the exception is
necessary. Second, the exceptions,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">if applied broadly, would weaken the fairness and erode the
legitimacy of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the administrative proceedings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The two considerations
mean that the protection of the privacy or</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">confidentiality of one party cannot automatically be used to the
detriment of the legitimate interests and the rights of access of other
parties.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The authority may rather be said to be under a
duty to balance in each</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">individual case the interests protected by
confidentiality and the interests</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to fair hearing in administrative procedure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">8. Future Challenges</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Openness Act is
undoubtedly an improvement because of the upto-date and express regulation of
access and its limits. Yet, the text of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the Act itself is perhaps not as user-friendly as it should be.
Some of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">provisions are so complicated that both the
authorities and informationseekers may encounter at least some difficulties in
their interpretation and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">application. The grounds of secrecy are
now clearly and comprehensively</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">defined,
but clarity has also resulted in an almost impenetrable jungle</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of detailed secrecy provisions. To some
extent it may be that these and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">similar
deficiencies are unavoidable in a modern information society;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">any attempt at a clear-cut and simple regulation
of access to government</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information may already simply prove to be
unfeasible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Access regimes should
almost by definition be accessible, i.e. understandable and easily applicable.
It is accessibility in this sense that, somewhat paradoxically, is perhaps the
biggest challenge facing the application</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of the new Act. It will most likely take a while before a
settled case law</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">will emerge and give needed guidance in the most
complicated issues.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Other challenges include the rapid development
of information technology and the role of government information as a resource
for commercial</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">exploitation. It may very well be that the new
Act requires amendments<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">faster than has been
foreseen at the drafting stage. In the meanwhile, the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">long tradition of open government will also play
a vital role in the implementation of the Openness Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="BN-BD" style="font-family: Vrinda; font-size: 17pt;">----------</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">Access to documents</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">– freedom of information</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">“could fuel public discussion”</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By
Tony Bunyan</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In 1999 when Statewatch
applied for copies of the new Council proposal</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">on access to documents we were refused access as it: “could fuel
public</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">discussion” and could offend “the Council’s
partners” (on that occasion</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
USA and NATO). This logic still persists seven years on in the main</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">EU institutions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The 199 code of access
was replaced by a Regulation covering the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Council of the European Union, the European Commission and the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">European Parliament in 2001 (10 9/2001) and was
meant to ”enshrine”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the Amsterdam Treaty’s commitment for the
citizens’ right of access to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">documents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> The shortcomings
of the Regulation were largely predictable;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">indeed they closely mirror the objections by civil society in 2000
when</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the measure was going through the European
Parliament.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Now six years on the European Commission says it
is going to ”consult” over possible changes in the near future. So it is a good
time to take<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">stock.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The European Parliament</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Let us start with the European Parliament, the
least of the culprits! The</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">documents
concerning the workings of the Committee on Civil Liberties</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(LIBE) are accessible. But there is a very
”grey” area when it comes to the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">parliament agreeing - at
the request of the Council (the 2 governments)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- to ”fast-track” measures by adopting them at first reading (ie:
they are</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">rushed through). The procedure was intended to
pass uncontroversial</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">measures quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The history of access to
EU documents up to the adoption of the Regulation can be found</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in an online book on: <a href="http://www.statewatch.org/secret/freeinfo/index.htm">http://www.statewatch.org/secret/freeinfo/index.htm</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">However, a real problem arises when the ”fast-track”
procedure is applied to controversial measures, like the Framework Decision the
mandatory retention of telecommunications data which introduced the
surveillance of all phone-calls, e-mails, faxes, mobile calls (including
location)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and internet usage. It was argued in the
”Brussels bubble” that this was</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">a
good example of ”inter-institutional loyalty” between the Council and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the European Parliament - the UK Council
Presidency claimed the need</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">for
the measure was urgent, yet it had been ”on the table” for over four</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">years.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Amendments to the Commission’s proposal were agreed in secret</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">”trilogue” meetings between the Council,
Commission and parliament.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The
agreed amendments were then put through the Committee and the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">plenary without any changes being allowed.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Such a procedure on such a controversial measure
gave national</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">parliaments and civil society little or no
chance to find out what is being<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">negotiated behind closed
doors, let alone to intervene and make their<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">views known.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The author, Tony Bunyan (UK), is a journalist
specialising in the openness</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in
the EU and an editor of Statewatch (UK), one of the leading groups in the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">EU monitoring the policies and actions in the
field of justice and home affairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Photo: European flag in
front of the Berlaymont building (© European Community, 2006).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The European Commission</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A small, but
significant, point is that, unlike the Council, the Commission’s public
register of documents does not include confirmatory applications for access to
documents and the outcomes of appeals are not on its</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">public register.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">But this is indicative of a much bigger problem with the
Commission,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">namely its public register of documents – which
on some estimates only</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">covers less than 10% of the documents produced
and received.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">There has been talk for years by Commission of
”improving” the register but it has a statutory obligation to put into effect
Article 11 of Regulation 10 9/2001. Article 11 is unequivocal:</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">”References to documents shall be recorded in
the register without delay” (Art11.1)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It does not say some documents, or the documents the Commission</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">chose to include - references to all documents
under this Article must be</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">recorded
in the register without delay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It is quite scandalous
that four years after the Regulation was adopted</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">on 2001 the Commission does not provide a full register of documents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Council of the
European Union</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">While the Council’s
public register of documents contains references to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">nearly all the documents prepared (for
exceptions see below) the problem</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">lies in getting access to key categories of documents.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Summits and meetings of the European Council</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It is not acceptable that decisions of the
primary policy-determining fora,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the meetings of the 2 Prime Ministers at European Councils, are
not</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">made public before they are adopted and, on
occasions when they are,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">there is no chance for parliaments [national and
European] or civil society</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to
intervene and make their views known.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The classic instance was the Tampere Summit in October 1999 which</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">adopted a 62 point, ”Programme” for justice and
home affairs. A draft was The Commission has chosen to only try and
partially implement Article 12 largely related</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to legislative documents adopted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Statewatch has sent a
complaint to the European Ombudsman on this issue.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">circulated on the first day to delegations and
the media. The final draft</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">was
available at 10.00am on the second and final day and adopted a few</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">hours later.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The same goes for the ”Hague Programme” adopted on November</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">200 or rather nodded through without debate by
the Council. Drafts</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">were only leaked by Statewatch a week before
adoption, yet again leaving</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">no
time for public debate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">These two ”Programmes”
set the detailed agenda for the Justice and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Home Affairs Council and for Commission - and subsequently for the
European Parliament. Yet there was no public or parliamentary debate based</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">on the drafts as to what should or should not be
included.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The ”space to think”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Council (and
Commission) have always argued that it needs ”the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">space to think”, that is, to formulate and change in secret so
that we can</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">only see the final proposal - and not the
aspects removed or added by</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">unseen
influences.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Under Article . of the Regulation the Council
can, and regularly</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">does, deny access to documents concerning
measures under discussion. This often means that the Commission’s draft
proposal is radically</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">changed. While the European Parliament’s opinion
is either ignored</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(under ”consultation”) or negotiated in secret
triloges (excluding a proper</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">role
for its committees and plenary sessions) under ”co-decision”.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Third parties” such as the USA</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">One area in which there is the greatest secrecy
is the numerous EU meetings involving the USA on JHA issues. Between
2001-November 200 a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">total of 09 documents on the Council register
concern ”USA” of which</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">only 8.8% are publicly accessible (compared to
over 62% in the register</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">as a whole). Sixteen documents are ”partially
accessible” meaning that</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the US position is blanked-out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Most USA documents which
are accessible were the subject of parliamentary scrutiny in national and
European parliaments. However, of 118</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">documents that were not, only 20 are accessible (17%) - mainly
concerning high-level EU-US meetings and ”Informal” meetings covering a range</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of issues.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The “public interest”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">When the 2001 Regulation was being discussed a lot was made of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">possibility of the ”public interest” in
disclosure out-weighing the interests</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of the institutions in maintaining secrecy - in practice not a
single appeal</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of the grounds of ”public interest” has ever won
the day with the Council</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(or the Commission).</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Overall problems</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">For both the Council and the Commission a major problem is which</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">documents they give access to and which they
does not. For example, the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">largest
category of refusal of access to documents by both institutions is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">where disclosure would ”seriously undermine the
institution’s decisionmaking process unless there is an overriding public
interest in disclosure”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This is the so-called
”space to think” for officials and not in a single</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">instance has a ”public interest” argument by an
applicant been upheld.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In effect this means, for example, that although
final Council and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Commission positions are made public few, if
any, of the internal discussions leading to the position are available before
the measure is adopted.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In a democratic EU all documents related to proposed
new measures</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">should be made public at the same time as the
proposal. Citizens can then<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">see what options and
influences were rejected or adopted.Since the Amsterdam Treaty came into force
in 1999 the number of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">documents in the field of justice and home
affairs (JHA) has mushroomed</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and
there are now over forty working groups that have to be tracked. Dozens of
documents are produced every day by the Council and Commission</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">making the job of monitoring what is being
discussed almost impossible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">even for the most
dedicated of researchers.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In addition there has been an explosion in the
number of “off-shore”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">bodies, agencies and centres which are subject
to little meaningful accountability or scrutiny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The need for freedom of
information in the EU</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The time has surely come
for an EU Freedom of Information Regulation</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">governing all its institutions, agencies, bodies and centres. As
distinct</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It is one of the great failings in the EU that
there is no mechanism in place for</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">post-legislative scrutiny.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">from ”access to documents” which require each issue to be tracked
down</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in the plethora of committees and working
groups. FOI in the EU would</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">mean
that a person could simply request all the documents concerning a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">specific measure or initiative and it would be
the job of the institution to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">provide
them. This should be subject to a new very limited set of exceptions -
excluding the ”space to think” and the right of third countries to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">veto disclosure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It should also have a
meaningful ”public interest” test. To argue, as the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Council and Commission do, that for momentous
decisions such as the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">finger-printing of everyone in the EU (biometric
passports and ID cards)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and the surveillance of all telecommunications,
the ”public interest” of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">disclosure never overrides their ”space to
think” has no place in a democratic Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The much talked of
”democratic deficit” is not just about the powers</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of parliaments - national or European - it is much deeper than
that. It is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">about changing the democratic culture into a
culture of openness, informed public debate and responsible and accountable
institutions.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The argument is really very simple and should be
quite easy to understand: citizens have a right to know how and why decisions
are made</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and implemented. Open, transparent and
accountable decision-making is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
essence of any democratic system. Secrecy is its enemy and produces</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">distrust, cynicism and apathy among citizens and
closed minds among</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">policy-makers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: double windowtext 2.25pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Without freedom of information, including access to documents,
there</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">is no accountability and without accountability
there can be no democracy.The Global Openness Movement in 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 22pt;">20 Years after the First Freedomof Information Law, Access to</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 22pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 22pt;">Government Information Now</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 22pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 22pt;">Seen as a Human Right</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 22pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By
Thomas S. Blanton</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Anders Chydenius would
be proud. During the 20<sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> anniversary year of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the first freedom of information law ever enacted, Chydenius’s
principle</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of publicity for government records has now won
legal recognition as</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">a fundamental human right. On 11 October 2006,
the Inter-American</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Court of Human Rights became the first – but
certainly not the last – international tribunal to hold that there is a
fundamental human right to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">access
government information.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In the case of Claude Reyes et. al. vs. Chile,
the Inter-American Court</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">found in favor of three environmental activists
who in 1998 sought</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information from the Chilean government about a
controversial logging</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">project. According to the Court’s ruling, by
failing to provide access to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
requested information, Chile had violated Article 1 of the American<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Convention on Human
Rights, which guarantees freedom of thought and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">expression. The Court held that Article 1 contains an implied
right of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">general access to government-held information,
and States must adopt</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">legal provisions to ensure the right is given
full effect. The Court specifically ordered Chile to provide the requested
information about the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Rio Condor logging project (which involved
environmentally sensitive</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">woodlands in the sub-arctic region of Tierra del
Fuego and a multinational timber company that had gained government subsidies),
or to issue</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">a reasoned decision for withholding the data, as
well as to adopt adequate</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">administrative procedures to protect the right
in the future and to train</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">public
officials to uphold the public’s right to information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">International advocates
of transparency in governance and the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">right-to-know have applauded the precedent-setting court decision.
For</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">example, according to Helen Darbishire,
Executive Director of Access</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Info
Europe which is attempting to raise openness standards especially</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in Western Europe, the decision ”will be
invaluable for activists who</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">need
government information to defend other human rights, protect the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">environment, and fight
corruption.” As Darbishire suggests, the new decision could provide the basis
for the European Court of Human Rights to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">reconsider its earlier rulings against information access as a
human right.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In a series of cases, from Leander v. Sweden in
1987 to Guerra v. Italy in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1998,
the European Court declined to find such a right in the European</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Convention on Human Rights, even though that
Convention’s Article</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">10 directly echoes both the Article 1 of the
American Convention (the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">basis for the Inter-American Court’s new ruling)
and the original Article</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Chydenius Parallel</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Chile case featured
some interesting parallels to the debates of 20</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">years ago, parallels that Anders Chydenius would likely have
appreciated. The Chile issues centered on secret deals made between a
government and wealthy industrial interests seeking exclusive access to timber</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and natural resources. In Chydenius’s day, the
leading debates concerned</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the trade monopolies enjoyed by wealthy
Stockholm merchants that</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">prevented the towns along the Gulf of Bothnia
(specifically Chydenius’s</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">own Kokkola) from trading their pine-tar
(essential for naval stores) or</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">engaging
in shipping and ship-building. As the mercantilist Hats party</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">lost power to the more agrarian-centered Caps in
the Swedish Diet in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the mid 1760s, during an extended period of
parliamentary rule, the free</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">trade
debates opened other secrecy issues such as the closed committee of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the Diet that made secret budgeting and foreign
policy decisions, as well</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">as the government’s censorship regime – both of
which became targets</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of Chydenius’s polemics and parliamentary
maneuvering. The culmination on 1 December 1766 was the first freedom of
information statute, in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the Freedom of the Press Act that stands as one
of the four fundamental</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">constitutional laws in Sweden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It must be noted that
Chydenius himself was soon forced out of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Diet and back to the life of a parish priest in Kokkola, where he
not only</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">preached and taught, but also practiced
medicine, played chamber music,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">drained
bogs, rotated crops, and constructed church buildings that stand</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to this day. His innovative Freedom of the Press
Act only remained in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">effect for six years after that first passage.
The restoration of the power of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">monarchy
under King Gustavus rolled back the Age of Freedom in Sweden. But the elevation
of the principle of publicity stayed in the Swedish</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">constitutional framework, and in that of
independent Finland after World</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">War
I. The two countries can rightfully boast of the two earliest Freedom</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of Information laws, and of a continuing
tradition of transparency in government to which the rest of the world
increasingly looks for a model.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Success of the
International Freedom</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of Information Movement</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Nearly 70 countries
today have enacted formal freedom of information</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">laws, and there are current debates and proposals under discussion
in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">scores of others. Before the end of the Cold War
in 1989, there were fewer than a dozen countries with formal statutes. The
usual list starts with</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Sweden and Finland, then includes the United
States (1966), Norway and Denmark (1970), France and the Netherlands (1978),
Australia and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">New Zealand (1982), and Canada (198 ). But even
this historic list demonstrates the enormous range of effectiveness and
implementation that</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">is found especially in the newest laws, since
the French law in particular</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">provides
only a shadow of the legal rights built into the U.S. or Canadian</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">laws, and attracts a fraction of the number of
requests that other countries</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">deal
with routinely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Just in the last year or
so, countries around the world as far apart as</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Taiwan, Uganda, Azerbaijan, and Macedonia joined the list of
countries</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">with formal access laws. A complete
country-by-country accounting</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">may
be found at the www.freedominfo.org web site, based on global data</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">compiled by David Banisar of Privacy
International, and updated annually with links to the texts of the laws, to the
web sites of government</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">agencies and NGOs working on access issues, and
related resources.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">These compilations also include several
countries such as Zimbabwe and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Uzbekistan,
whose statutes are freedom of information laws in name only,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">since their real purposes were to censor the
press and monopolize government information but to do so under a false flag.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Perhaps the most successful implementation of a
new freedom of information law has occurred in Mexico, where the transition in
2000 from</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">70 years of one-party rule opened political
space for transparency reforms.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Media
and civil society groups had banded together in a joint national</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">campaign named the “Grupo Oaxaca” after the
historic town (site of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ancient Native American ruins on Monte Alban as
well as colonial and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">revolutionary monuments) where the movement
first met. The new</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">president, Vicente Fox, a business executive
representing the right wing,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">embraced
the transparency cause, opened the Presidential household</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">accounts (revealing exorbitant expenditures on
sheets and towels, among</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">other small corruptions), and pressed for
passage of the law in 2002.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">But the signal
accomplishment of the Mexican implementation was</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the creation of new agency, an independent information commission,
as</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the leading edge of reform. The commission,
known by its Spanish initials</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">as
IFAI, became the center of a new generation of reformers attracted by</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Fox and the possibilities for change. The
commission combined judicial</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">powers
as a tribunal for appeals of agency denials, with educational and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">training functions for the public and for
government officials. IFAI did</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">not
hesitate to overrule even cabinet ministers on issues of information<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">withholding, and
President Fox to his credit backed up the commission,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">appeared at its functions, and will leave office
at the end of this year with</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
implementation of the access law as perhaps the only lasting achievement of his
six years in office. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Freedom of Information
in the Long View</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In much the same way
that Anders Chydenius struggled against secret</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and unaccountable government power in the 1760s, so too has the
international freedom of information movement been sparked by the 20<sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">century rise of the administrative state.
Citizens and parliaments looked</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">for
ways to rein in bureaucratic and executive power, which naturally</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">employed secrecy as a basic tool for retaining
power and restraining public</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">debate
even in the democracies, and developed more destructive mutations in
autocracies. State power’s most extreme and grotesque manifestations – the
concentration camps of Hitler and the Gulag of Stalin – put</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">moral arguments in the hands of reformers who
reached back to ideas of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the Enlightenment for notions of human rights,
checks and balances, free</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">markets, and democracy. The first efforts at
restraint on bureaucracies</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">produced
reforms that rationalized administrative procedures and granted</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">rights of access to information and input into
decisionmaking, but only</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to the self-interested parties to the procedure.
To inspect a government</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">record, one had to show a need to know, or be an
interested party. But</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">over time, this common law standard eroded under
pressure from market</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">forces and from various scandals, and turned
into a right of public access</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and
public inspection of records.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Seen in this long view,
the trend toward Freedom of Information Acts</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">is the outgrowth of a century-long process of rationalizing
government</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">bureaucracy, or, put another way,
counterbalancing the rise of the administrative state. In the United States,
for example, the substantial bureaucratic foundation that grew up in the
federal government beginning early</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in the 20<sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> century was necessary, though not sufficient, for the
ultimate</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">passage of the FOIA. At the same time that
doctors, lawyers and academics were successfully seeking prestige and higher
incomes by organizing their professions and imposing barriers-to-entry (such as
bar exams,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">educational credentials, professional
associations), a similar professionalization came to government service. The
political dynamic was led by</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
“progressive” movement of Theodore Roosevelt and other self-styled</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">reformers who challenged economic monopolies,
sought to address social</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">problems like poverty and infant mortality, and
fought the then-prevalent “machine” politicians (often ethnically-based and
usually in the big</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">cities) by exposing political and business
corruption, bribes, nepotism,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and
patronage. (Thus did the generic public interest in clean government</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">mesh with the self-interest of these mostly
white, mostly middle- and upper-class reformers in their political
advancement.) The core reforms</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">seized
on to solve these problems were the creation and expansion of a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">professional civil service to staff the
government, together with much</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">greater
government intervention into and regulation of various sectors</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of U.S. society. For example, the Federal Reserve
Board (regulating the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">money supply and banks) dates from 191 , as does
the U.S. Department</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of Labor (regulating the workplace); and the
Federal Trade Commission</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(anti-trust and other market regulation) dates
from 191 .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The rise of the
professional bureaucracy brought far more systematic</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">approaches to record-keeping in the U.S.
government, including the first</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">surveys
of governmental archives and the first standardized information</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">systems. The growth of the U.S. government –
most dramatic during the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">two World Wars, as the administrative state
turned into the national</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">security state – required writing things down,
and being able to find them</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">later.
The informal arrangements of the pre-bureaucratic era no longer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">sufficed when the task
of government was to move hundreds of thousands</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of armed soldiers across the Atlantic or Pacific oceans, provide
them the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">logistics to fight a war, and bring them back.
The era of “normalcy”, as</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">President Harding called it, between the two
World Wars also saw its</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">contribution to the professionalization of the
bureaucracy and ultimately</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to
freedom of information, with new laws establishing the U.S. National</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Archives in 19 (previously, government records
were preserved, or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">more likely not, by the
agency that created them), and the Federal Register</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in 19 , for formal, daily publication of agency
actions and regulations.In one famous case in 19 , government attorneys arguing
a lawsuit before the Supreme Court were embarrassed to find their case was
based on</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">a non-existent regulation. After six years of
the Federal Register produced</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">a
bookshelf-full of agency actions, the Congress in 19 1 created the Code</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of Federal Regulations, as an authoritative
compilation of current law and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">regulation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">These disclosure
mechanisms were building blocks for a future freedom</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of information process. The key actors pushing
these reforms ranged from</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">professional associations of lawyers and
historians to crusading anti-corruption politicians. Perhaps the most
surprising allies for more open</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">government
came from the private sector, responding to the administrative state’s
increasing interventions in markets and society in the early</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">20<sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> century and culminating with the establishment of the
national</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">security state during World War II (President
Eisenhower’s famous term<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">for this phenomenon was
“the military-industrial complex”). In effect,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the mobilization by government of private industry for war
production,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the massive expansion of government contracting,
and the resulting surge in economic growth sparked a parallel growth in the
numbers and variety of “stakeholders” such as corporate contractors, industrial
and service unions, lobbyists, lawyers, trade associations, and representatives
of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">regulated industry. All had an interest in
affecting agency actions, and the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Federal Register as it existed then only published final actions,
rather than</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">proposed actions. A crucial turning point came
in 19 6, with passage of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the Administrative Procedure Act. The APA
created the right of “notice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and comment,” in which
agencies had to provide some period for public</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">comment before new regulations or proposed changes to existing
regulations could go into effect. For the first time, stakeholders had a
formal,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">legally reviewable process for participating in
federal agency decisionmaking. Ironically, the APA also included a flawed
public information section</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">intended
by its drafters to open government files, but which worked so</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">poorly because it allowed so much discretion to
the bureaucrats that it</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">was ultimately repealed and replaced by the U.S.
FOIA in 1966.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Fundamentals of
Freedom of Information</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The point of this
narrative of bureaucracy is to emphasize that freedom of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information statutes are not stand-alone
solutions to government secrecy.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In the U.S. case, for example, reformers had to begin with
threshold</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">requirements to create, maintain and preserve
government records, and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to regulate agency information systems and
archives. The delegations of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">reformers
who visit the U.S. are always surprised to see the first section of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the U.S. FOI law – the section that requires
government agencies to publish in the Federal Register descriptions of their
organization, functions,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">procedures, forms, substantive rules, policies
and regulations. The U.S.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Privacy Act requires
every federal agency to publish in the Federal Register detailed descriptions
of every database and records system containing</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">records that are retrievable by personal identifiers – the
Pentagon report</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">alone fills two volumes of closely-spaced type.
In Sweden, the threshold</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">openness requirement goes even further: agencies
list in public registers</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">almost every document written or received in the
course of official business – with very few exceptions – so that requesters
know exactly what</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">they’re asking for, and also the agency knows
exactly what it has.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The process of
bureaucratic expansion also created an interactive</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">effect, so that at the same time that government
was making its own</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">record-keeping more efficient for internal
purposes, it also faced increasing public demand for access to those records as
well as for participation</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in shaping any new regulations. The U.S. FOIA
grew on a substantial bureaucratic foundation, as one more of a wide variety of
accountability and efficiency mechanisms – some of which, like the requirement
to maintain</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">formal records systems documenting the
activities of government, are</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">probably
a prerequisite to any kind of successful FOI process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The duty to publish, and
a kind of threshold transparency, is fundamental before citizens can make
informed and effective requests for</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information. This routine openness also has to extend to each of
the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">major functions of government – executive,
legislative, and judicial. The</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ideal
openness regime, of course, would have the government publishing</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">so much that the formal request for specific
information (and the resulting administrative and legal process) would become
the exception rather</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">than the rule. Until that time, openness
advocates have reached consensus on the five fundamentals of effective freedom
of information statutes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">* First, such statutes
begin with the presumption of openness. In other</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">words, the state does not own the information;
it belongs to the citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">* Second, any exceptions
to the presumption must be as narrow as possible and written in statute, not
subject to bureaucratic variation and the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">change of administrations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">* Third, any exceptions
to release must be based on identifiable harm to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">specific state interests, not general categories like “national
security” or</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“foreign relations.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">* Fourth, even where
there is identifiable harm, the harm must outweigh</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the public interest served by releasing the
information, such as the general public interest in open and accountable
government, and the specific</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">public
interest in exposing waste, fraud, abuse, criminal activity, and so</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">forth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">* Fifth, a court, an
information commissioner, an ombudsperson or other</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">authority that is independent of the original
bureaucracy holding the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information should resolve any dispute over
access.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Next Frontier:</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Openness Challenge
in the International Institutions</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As Tony Bunyan argues in this publication, the European Union is
long</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">overdue for its own Freedom of Information
statute. And so are the other</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">international
institutions that exercise more and more power over the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">daily lives of citizens and the policy decisions
of nations. Indeed, one of the greatest challenges to democratic governance in
the globalized world</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">lies in the growing gap – the “democratic
deficit” – between the power</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of
the international institutions to affect human lives throughout the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">planet, and the power of the people so affected
to hold those institutions</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">accountable,
much less participate in the institutions’ decisions. This issue is rapidly
becoming the next frontier of the openness debate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The growth of the
international institutions, especially since the end</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of the Cold War, is particularly dramatic. The
World Bank has more than</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">doubled its annual commitments since 1979 and
now lends in more than</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">100 countries, including the previously
off-limits territory of the former</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Soviet Union. The multilateral development banks have emulated the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">World Bank in the growth of their own regional
portfolios. The World</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Trade Organization replaced the earlier General
Agreement on Tariffs</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and Trade in 199 with a more restrictive set of
rules and binding dispute settlement procedures. The end of the fixed exchange
rate system<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in the 1970s and the
debt crisis of the 1980s changed the International</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Monetary Fund from the world’s exchange rate
fixer into a key provider</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of development assistance as well as ultimate
arbiter for many countries</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of
whether international capital will be available at all. After 1991, the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">North Atlantic Treaty Organization expanded to
take in the former Warsaw Pact countries of East and Central Europe, and now
has troops on the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ground in Afghanistan. But the governance
structures of these international institutions have not changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Discussion of the
resulting “democratic deficit” is no longer limited to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the protest movement that gave the place names
“Seattle” and “Genoa”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">significance both as generic anti-globalization
reaction and as a more sophisticated challenge to the legitimacy of international
institutions. The</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">policy and scholarly literature is exploding
with attempts to analyze the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">problem,
but at the root of the issue is the genealogy of the financial/trade</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">institutions (IFTIs) and the inter-governmental
organizations (IGOs).</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The former descend directly from central banks,
which even in the most</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">democratic countries tend to be the least
directly accountable governance institutions; and the latter spawn from
lowest-common-denominator</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">alliances of nations, with concomitant governance
processes that trend</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">towards the bottom. In both cases, diplomatic
confidentiality served</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">as the norm for communications among nations
that established these</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">institutions; and such norms – although somewhat
eroded – continue to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">shroud them today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Possibilities for
Openness</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in the International Institutions</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The fact of public
attention to the problem of secrecy in international</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">institutions should serve as the threshold
signal of an opportunity for</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">change.
One cannot underestimate the ameliorative effect of embarrassment, or as the
analyst Ann Florini termed this effect, “regulation by</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">revelation.” Such exposure has compelled in
particular the IFTIs over the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">past
20 years gradually to expand the documentation that is available to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the public and to improve their communication
with stakeholders and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">other target groups. In
fact, the public relations and publications functions of international
institutions may well be the fastest-growing such</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">bureaucracies in terms of budget and employee positions. But the
new</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">transparency more resembles a sophisticated
publications scheme than it</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">does
an actual “revolution” in accountability. Even so, there are at least</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">five other causes for optimism that more
fundamental change may well</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">be
possible – if civil society seizes the opportunity, and the institutions</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">themselves internalize the need for change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">First, what was once a
marginalized, placard-expressed, protester critique of international
institutions’ secrecy and lack of accountability has</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">now risen to the level of conventional wisdom.
When the dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (Joseph Nye) compares
the IFTIs</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to “closed and secretive clubs,” when the
European Union’s commissioner</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">for
external affairs (and formerly chair of Britain’s Tory party, Chris Patten)
pronounces in passing that international institutions “lack democratic
legitimacy,” and when the World Bank’s former chief economist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(Joseph Stiglitz)
describes increased openness as “short of a fundamental</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">change in their governance, the most important
way to ensure that the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">international economic institutions are more
responsive to the poor, to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
environment [and] to broader political and social concerns” – one</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">sees the makings of an emerging elite consensus
on the problem and the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">potential role of greater openness in addressing
the “democratic deficit.”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In this formulation, openness becomes the next
best thing to democratic</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">governance, and when the latter is unlikely
because those in control are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">unlikely to give up that
control, then transparency will serve as the most</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">important alternative control mechanism, and the possible
threshold for</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">addressing governance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Second, as a result of
outside pressure and the emerging conventional</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">wisdom, international institutions themselves are paying at least
lip</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">service to the need for greater openness, and in
some cases, have actually achieved significant progress towards more
transparency. Each of the multilateral development banks, for example, has
promulgated formal</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">policies on access to their internal documentation,
and a wide variety of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">records that were previously secret are now
routinely provided to the public – although host government veto power and
ingrained bureaucratic</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">self-preservation instincts still prevent the
most controversial information</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">from
such routine publication. Starting in 1999, the almost simultaneous</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">emergence of the left-wing antimarket critique
featured in the Seattle</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and Genoa demonstrations, among others, with the
right-wing promarket critique offered by the Republican-dominated U.S. Congress
and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">its Meltzer Commission about the banks and the
IMF, pointed towards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">greater transparency as
one of the few strategies that addressed both wings</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of the debate. The real importance of these
developments, however, is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">that the pro-openness rhetoric from IFTI and IGO
leaders, together with</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the existence of formal disclosure policies,
provides extensive leverage</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">points
for activists who are willing to test specific instances of secrecy and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to pursue an “inside-outside” strategy of
working with internal reformers</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and
external watchdogs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Third, the international
financial institutions have themselves begun</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">advocating national level openness laws, as part of their new
emphasis on</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">governance and accountability as a standard for
aid and investment, and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">therefore are harder pressed to avoid
transparency themselves. Research</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">supported by the World Bank has established a wide range of
governance</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">indicators that associate transparency with
decidedly lower levels of corruption, more effective delivery of public
services, and more public voice</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">for
stakeholders and constituencies. The evidence has become strong</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">enough that the World Bank has officially
included the promotion of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">access-to-information laws as one of its own
goals for anti-corruption and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">development
efforts around the globe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Fourth, civil society
organizations around the world have seized on</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">openness as a threshold goal in struggles over the whole panoply
of social</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">issues, ranging from the environment to AIDS to
poverty reduction to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">corruption. In India, for example, the Mazdor
Kisan Shakti Sanghatan</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(MKSS) grassroots movement based in Rajasthan
began in 1990 with a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">focus on securing the legally-required minimum
wages for poor farmers</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and rural laborers, but soon realized that
access to official records was key</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">not only to that goal, but also to preventing corruption and
enforcing a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">connection between government expenditure and
human need. Ironically, this tactical choice by NGOs has coincided at least
rhetorically</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">with the rise among elites – not least the
professional staffs of the international institutions themselves – of the
so-called “Washington consensus”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">for market-driven economic development, the fundamental
assumptions of which require highly-distributed information to make markets
work<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">– thus adding efficiency
arguments to the moral and political critiques</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">already employed by activists.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Fifth, the success of the international movement for freedom of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information at the national level, with new laws
in dozens of countries</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">over the past few years, has brought new
attention to the international</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">level
of governance. While there is enormous variation in the effectiveness of these
laws, and major difficulties remaining in the implementation</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of such rights in transitional democracies with
limited rule-of-law, one</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">hallmark of the dozens of national campaigns has
been their attentiveness</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to other national models and their outreach for
international connections</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and support. In the process, international FOI
campaigners have identified the problem of secrecy in the international
institutions as a major<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">priority for future
work, and have begun reaching out beyond the traditional FOI community to NGOs
and civil society activists experienced in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the various IFTI accountability efforts. Over time, these new
networks are</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">likely to develop even more dramatic reform
proposals for openness and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">accountability
in the international institutions, ranging from potential</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">international treaties as an overarching
framework based on human rights</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">arguments,
to notice-and-comment requirements for projects and policy</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">changes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Chydenius Principle
of Publicity</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in Action around the World</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Perhaps the best
testimony to the effectiveness of Anders Chydenius’s</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">original idea comes from the creative ways in
which journalists, researchers, companies, interest groups, and just plain
citizens have made use of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the access laws to fix social problems, expose
corruption and wrong-doing, and change the ways that governments do their
business. Earlier this</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">year,
the author and his colleagues at the virtual network of freedom of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information advocates, located at
www.freedominfo.org, searched news</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">databases world wide to locate examples of openness laws in
action. Not</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">only were there hundreds of news stories and
media broadcasts about the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ongoing campaigns and
debates over freedom of information laws, but</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">there were also more than a thousand news stories just in 2006,
just in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">English, reporting the results of citizens’
access to government information. What follows here is an edited and
admittedly selective compilation from around the globe of reports that pay
tribute to the freedom of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information concept, in the 20<sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> anniversary year of the very first
accessto-information experiment: Serbian Student’s Request Reveals
Corruption in School, Spurs Government Investigation</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I.N., a 17-year-old student, sent an access to
information request to his</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">school,
seeking information about its financial operations and other matters. The
institution refused to provide the information, and on several<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">occasions sought to
cancel the request on the basis that the requester was</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">a minor. But I.N. appealed to the
Commissioner for Information, which</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ordered that the request be fulfilled. The financial data
that the student</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">obtained showed serious abuses and corruption at
the school, which is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">now being investigated by the Organised Crime
Directorate.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Rodoljub Sabic, “Jonesko in secondary
school,” Danas (Serbia),</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Nov. 22, 200 .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Britain Secretly Gave
Israel Nuclear Material, Documents Show</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Previously classified
documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by BBC2 show that
Britain secretly supplied plutonium to Israel</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">during the 1960s. Despite warnings from intelligence
officials that Israel</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">was seeking to develop a nuclear bomb, Britain
made hundreds of shipments of material that may have helped Israel’s nuclear
program. The</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">documents describe how officials in the Ministry
of Defence and the Foreign Office opposed the deal, which was later forced
through by a Jewish</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">civil servant in the Ministry of Technology.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Richard Norton-Taylor, “Britain gave Israel
plutonium, files show,”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Guardian, March 10,
2006.</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Poor Delhi Woman Uses
RTI to Force Shop to Provide Rations</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A 2-year-old woman who works as a domestic servant discovered that</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">she had been denied her ration share from a
government-approved shop</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in a slum area of south Delhi for more than five
years. The impoverished</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Delhi
resident, whose name is Sunita, had been given a ration card for</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the poor five years ago, but never received any
rations from the local<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">shop. She filed a
complaint under the Right to Information Act (RTI)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and learned that the record incorrectly
reflected that she had received</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
ration during the past five years. Since the discrepancy was revealing,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Sunita has been receiving the required ration
each month.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“A right that has got them food,” Indo-Asian
News Service, April 2, 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Pentagon Releases First
Complete List of Guantanamo Bay Detainees</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by the
Associated Press, the U.S. Department of Defense for the first time released a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">comprehensive list of the names and
nationalities of 8 foreign terrorism</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Pentagon had long
resisted</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">releasing any details about the prisoners,
citing security concerns in letting al Qaeda know which of its members had been
captured. But under</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">several recent court orders, the government was
made to release more<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">than 7,000 pages of
documents relating to military hearings at Guantanamo Bay, and then also agreed
to provide the complete list of detainees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Will Dunham, “US
releases extensive list of Guantanamo detainees,”</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Reuters, April 20, 2006.</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">UK Warns: Blood Products
Sold in 14 Countries May Be Contaminated With Mad Cow Disease</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Documents released to The Guardian under the
Freedom of Information Act show that British health officials have warned
authorities in 1</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">countries that patients who receive blood
products exported from the UK</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">may
be at risk for contracting mad cow disease. In particular, officials</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in Brazil and Turkey were warned that
“sufficient quantities” of infected</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">products may have been sent, and that they should take precautions
to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">avoid spread of the disease. Although the
media had previously reported</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">that
patients abroad might be at risk, this was the first time that specific</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">countries and relative risks had been disclosed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">James Meikle and Rob
Evans, “British blood products may pose vCJD</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">risk in 1 countries,”
The Guardian, May 2, 2006.</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">U.S. Military Sent
Troops With Severe Mental Health Problems into</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Combat</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A report obtained under
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by The</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Hartford Courant described numerous cases in which the military
did not</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">follow regulations requiring screening, treatment
and evacuation of mentally ill troops in Iraq. Twenty-two U.S. troops in
Iraq committed suicide</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">in 200 , the highest rate since the start of the
war. The report detailed</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">how
fewer than 1 in 00 troops screened were referred to a mental health</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">professional before being deployed, and that
some of the service members who committed suicide had been kept on duty despite
clear signs of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">mental health problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">
“Report: Troops with mental health problems forced into combat,”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Associated Press, May 1 , 2006. Canadian
Government Warned that Food Supply is Vulnerable to Terrorism</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A report, released under the Access to
Information Act by the Canadian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Food Inspection Agency
(CFIA), warns that the Canadian food supply</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">chain has a number of “weak links” and is vulnerable to terrorist
attacks.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The document describes several potential
scenarios, including biological</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">strikes
on livestock and sabotage of genetically modified crops, and also</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">cites inadequate security at food processing
plants as a major concern.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">James
Gordon, “Food supply a terrorism risk,” Ottowa Citizen,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">May 1 , 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Local Governments in
Japan Ignored Contract Bid-Rigging</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">An investigation by the
Yomiuri Shimbun, with documents obtained under</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the Freedom of Information Law, found that local governments
allowed</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">numerous projects, including 16 sewage plant
building projects, to go</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">forward despite suspected bid-rigging. The
government officials contend</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">that
they signed the contracts because they could not confirm the bidding</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">process had in fact been tainted. The
governments also argued that they</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">lacked adequate authority to investigate the allegations, and
could only</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ask companies to admit whether they had engaged
in bid-rigging.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Local governments ignored bid-rigging,” The
Daily Yomiuri (Tokyo),</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">May 26, 2006. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">South Korean Government
Report Says 489 People Abducted by</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">North Korea<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">South Korea’s
opposition, the Grand National Party, released data from</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">a report it obtained from the intelligence
service, confirming that a total</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of 89 South Koreans had been abducted by the North. The
report says</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">that 90 percent of the victims were fisherman
who worked in the territorial waters dividing the South from the North.
Of those captured, 10</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">are
confirmed dead.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“No. of South Koreans abducted by North totals
89,”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Japan Economic Newswire, June , 2006.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Request on Bulgarian Vote for<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">UN Human Rights Council
Reveals</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Lack of Recorded Decision-Making</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">After the United Nations
General Assembly on May 9, 2006 held a secret</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">session to elect members of the new Human Rights Council, NGOs in
a 9</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">number of countries filed coordinated freedom of
information requests for</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">voting procedures and the votes cast by each
country. In response to a request from the Access to Information
Programme (AIP), the Ministry of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Foreign Affairs (MFA) released 7 pages of documents.
However, much</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to the dismay of openness advocates, the
documents contained only details of the final outcome of the voting but no
information regarding the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">voting process or the decisions made by the
Bulgarian government about</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">which
candidates to support. As a result, AIP and other activists have</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">vowed to press for policies requiring the MFA
and other government</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">bodies to records details of meetings and
discussions on such vital issues as</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">human rights policy.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Gergana Jouleva, “Public Information But Not Really,”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">AIP Bulgaria newsletter,
July 2006.</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In Ireland, Cuts in
Prison Funding Threaten Safety and Security</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A series of reports, obtained by The Irish Times under the Freedom
of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Information Act, detail major funding cuts in
the prison system that have</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">forced
closure of educational and rehabilitation facilities in overcrowded</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">prisons across the country. One report
warns that many prisoners who</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">are
addicted to drugs upon their release may seek compensation from the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Irish Prison Service later for inadequate
rehabilitation services. Some</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of the reports, submitted nearly eight months ago, detail the
threat of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">mental illness to the
security of prisoners and prison staff. This threat</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">was brought to the fore recently, when a
mentally ill inmate murdered</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">another
prisoner at Mountjoy Prison in Dublin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Impact of prison
cutbacks highlighted in reports,”</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Irish Times, Aug. 17, 2006.</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Australian Government
Ignored Asbestos Contamination in Immigration Detention Center</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Documents obtained by The Australian under the
Freedom of information Act show that the government in 2002 wrongly declared
safe a plot</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of land near Sydney that now houses an
Immigration Detention Center.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">When the contamination
was discovered, 26 detainees had to be evacuated, costing taxpayers $1.
million. Officials fear that hundreds of detainees who were held at the
site could file compensation claims against</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the government.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Michael
McKinnon, “Asylum centre’s deadly asbestos,”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Australian, Aug. 2 , 2006. British Government Gave Landmines
to Saudis, Free of Charge, to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Avoid
Violating Treaty</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Letters publicized recently in response to a
Freedom of Information Act</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">request
show that the British government handed over £ 17 million worth</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of anti-personnel land mines to the Saudis just
before the 1999 Ottowa</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Treaty banning landmines came into force.
In his letters, British defence</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">secretary George Robertson justified the transaction as a way of
helping</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Saudi Arabia modernize its weapons. But
the Saudis did not sign the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">anti-mine
treaty, and the transfer of weapons allowed the British to pass</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">an inspection by showing it had no
anti-personnel mines in its arsenal</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">once the treaty came into effect. After the revelations, the
Ministry of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Defence defended the transaction, saying that it
demonstrated the UK’s</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">committment to the Ottawa Treaty. Christopher
Hope, “Saudis handed pounds 17m of free arms;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">‘strategically important country’ benefited from landmine treaty,”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Daily Telegraph
(London), Aug. 21, 2006.</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Documents Reveal Mexican
Soldiers, Police Crossing U.S. Border</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">U.S. intelligence summaries released to the watchdog group
Judicial</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Watch as the result of Freedom of Information
Act requests describe more</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">than
200 incidents between 1996 and 200 when Mexican soldiers and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">police crossed the U.S. border, including some
that resulted in armed</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">confrontations with U.S. federal agents.
The charts, maps, and incident</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">reports detail both “threatening” and “non-threatening”
encounters,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">including shots being fired, unmarked
helicopters entering U.S. airspace,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and confrontations among Mexican troops, U.S. border patrol
agents, and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">illegal immigrants and drug smugglers.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Bryon Wells, “Documents detail incursions by
Mexican soldiers,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">police,” Yuma Sun (Arizona), Sept. 1 , 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Hungarian Government
Releases NATO Secrecy Policy Document</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In response to a freedom
of information request by Adam Foldes of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU), the Hungarian security</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">agency released a policy document that describes
the information security</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">policy followed by the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">applied to its member countries. The document
contains the agreement</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">by which NATO parties collectively safeguard
NATO classified information within their respective information security
regimes and defines</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">”principles and minimum standards to be applied
by NATO nations and NATO civil and military bodies” to ensure proper protection
of such</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">information. The disclosure was of
particular significance because the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">governments of Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">have previously refused to release this document
and others regarding</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">NATO information security policies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Hungarian Government
Releases NATO Secrecy Policy Document,”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">freedominfo.org, Sept. 22, 2006. Anders Chydenius</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(1729-180 )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Anders Chydenius was one
of the most notable politicians of eighteenth</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">century Sweden-Finland. He is most of all remembered as an
outspoken defender of freedom of trade and industry, the Adam Smith of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">North. Chydenius’ views on free trade emanated
from his general ideology of freedom. In his view democracy, equality and a
respect for human</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">rights were the only way towards progress and
happiness for the whole of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">society.
Behind Anders Chydenius’ thought and actions there can be seen</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">three of the main keys to the spirit of his
time: the idea of natural rights,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the natural scientific worldview, and pietism, which emphasises
the religious convictions of the individual.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Priest, Enlightenment
Thinker, Politician</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Anders Chydenius’ youth
was passed in the poor and barren surroundings</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of Northern Finland. He was born in 1729 in Sotkamo, where his
father</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Jacob was a chaplain. Soon the family moved to
Kuusamo, and Jacob</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">became rector there in 17 . After being taught
by his father, Anders</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">attended Oulu grammar school along with his
brother Samuel. After the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">War of the Hats of 17 1- the boys studied
together privately in Tornio,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and
were accepted to Turku Academy in 17 . They also studied at Uppsala University.
Anders’ studies included mathematics, natural sciences,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Latin and philosophy.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In 17 Chydenius, having just graduated, was
appointed preacher to</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the chapel of the dependent parish of Alaveteli
in Ostrobothnia. In 17</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Anders married Beata Magdalena Mellberg, the
daughter of a merchant</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">from the port of Pietarsaari. The marriage was
childless. Throughout the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">years at Alaveteli Chydenius was active in many
practical projects. He</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">was responsible for the clearing of marshes and
he experimented with new</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">breeds of animals and plants and adopted new
methods of cultivation. In</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">all
his practicality Chydenius was clearly representative of the Swedish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">”Age of Utility”, with
his aim of enlightening the peasantry by example.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Chydenius also practiced medicine, and achieved renown in his own</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">lifetime by inoculating ordinary folk against
smallpox. He also performed</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">demanding
ocular cataract operations, and prepared medicines himself.In 1770 Anders
Chydenius</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(1729-1803) was</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">appointed rector of Kokkola</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Parish. The same</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">year
this portrait</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of Chydenius</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">was painted by</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Per
Fjällström</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(Alaveteli Church,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Finland).</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Chydenius’ first writings concerned practical
matters, such as the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">overgrowing of meadows by moss, and improvements
in the design of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">horse-carriages. Soon he moved on to social
questions. Chydenius was</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">acclaimed as a writer and speaker, and was
dispatched to the Stockholm</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Diet
in 176 -66, commissioned to obtain free trading rights for the towns</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of Ostrobothnia. Kokkola, Vaasa, Pori and Oulu
obtained navigational</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">rights, which had considerable consequences for
their later development</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and for the whole of Ostrobothnia. Chydenius’
radical activities led in</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the end to his exclusion from the Diet at the
hands of his own political party (the so-called Cap-wearers). In the last
resort the cause was his</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">article on monetary politics, which criticised a
decision of the estates of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the
realm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In 1770 Chydenius was
appointed rector of Kokkola. He began to concentrate more than ever upon parish
work, which he considered a most</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">important task. His musical interests also thrived and he
maintained his own orchestra, which gave concerts in the rectory’s reception
hall. One of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">his main tasks during his latter years was the
supervision of the building</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of
the extension to the old parish church. Chydenius died in 180 .</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Dedender of Freedom - ”Father of Freedom of
Information”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Chydenius participated actively in the Diet of
176 -66. One of the concrete results of Chydenius’ activities was an extension
of the freedom of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the press, which he considered himself to be one
of his greatest achievements. The Ordinance on Freedom of Writing and of the
Press (1766)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">abolished political censorship and gave the
public access to government</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">documents.
This was the world’s first freedom of information legislation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Chydenius again
participated in the Diet from 1778-79, at which</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">amongst other matters the position of hired hands was brought up.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Chydenius strongly championed the rights of the
servant class and called</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">for the creation of an open employment market.
He introduced a bill,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">at the suggestion of King Gustavus III, by which
foreigners were granted</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">limited rights to the practice of their own
religion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Chydenius participated
in the Diet once more in 1792. He was again</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">highly active as a writer, covering for example the development of
agriculture, the burning of saltpeter, smallpox, and the settlement of Lapland.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Pioneer of Economic Liberalism - ”Nordic Adam
Smith”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Soon after the commencement of the Diet of 176
-66 Chydenius published a number of political pamphlets at a prolific rate, in
which he</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">criticized other faults in the economical system
of Sweden, such as the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">so called commodity ordinance. As these writings
gave rise to an extensive and heated debate, Chydenius wanted to put forward
his viewpoint</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">on the basic factors in economic activity. This
resulted in The National</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Gain (Den Nationnale Winsten), which was
published in July 176 .</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In the essay Chydenius completely rejects the
basic assumptions of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">mercantilist policy; economic life can not be
planned and directed from</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">above. If one wants economic activities to gain
the nation as a whole,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">then the only guiding principle for this should
be freedom. When people</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">can advance their own selfish interests and get
their livelihood in the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">way they consider the best, economic activity
increases and the ”national</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">gain”
will grow. When the laws of supply and demand prevailed, it was</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">possible to achieve a natural balance between
trades. The National Gain is a treatise of oure classical liberalism, which is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">why posterity often has considered it one of
Chydenius’ most important</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">works. Due to this work pioneering free trade
Chydenius has often been</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">compared to Adam Smith. The democratic basic
view of Chydenius has</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">largely been neglected, however. He objected
both to the patronage by</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the state and to monopolistic large-scale
entrepreneurship. His view is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">that
freedom in economic life is freedom at grass-root level, the rights of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">individuals to realize their ideas in life.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Anders Chydenius</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Foundation</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Foundation serves to promote discussion on the liberalization
of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">economy and its consequences in the light of the
ideas and tradition of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Anders Chydenius (1729-180 ), to support
academic research into this</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">topic
and to influence decisions in this field by laying emphasis on ethical</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">values.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Although Anders Chydenius spoke of the liberalization of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">economy and the elimination of privileges, he
was firmly of the opinion that the economy existed for the good of the people
and not the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">people for the good of the economy. His
political platform was based on</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">democracy,
equality and respect for human rights. The need for ethical</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">discussions in society on the basis of these
values does not seem to have</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">diminished
in the least.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Foundation sees its
role as one of stimulating discussion and</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">exercising influence in practical matters. It brings together
researchers,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">thinkers, decision-makers and other influential
persons to deliberate over</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">aspects
of the globalizing economy or the development of an information</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">society, for instance. Chydenius himself
demonstrated that international</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">discussions
can be responsive to initiatives from outside the major centres</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of activity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Foundation in
cooperation with the Chydenius Institute has</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">launched a project to publish a scientific edition of Anders
Chydenius’</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">collected works during the years 2006-2010. The
complete works will be</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">published in 10 volumes in their original
language Swedish, and translated into Finnish. In addition, the principal works
of Chydenius and a</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">comprehensive biography will be published in
English. The complete</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">works will also be published in an electronic
format in internet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Anders Chydenius
Foundation was founded in 2001 and is located in his home town of
Kokkola.10enius.net.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> *********************************************************************<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-42251791522545009022011-07-28T00:30:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:36.985-05:00Freedom of Information Act 2000, UK<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br /><div class="deleteBody"><h2 class="postTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #777777; font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Access to information held by public authoritiesRight to information1 General right of access to information held by public authorities.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Any person making a request for information to a public authority is entitled—(a)to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds information of the description specified in the request, and(b)if that is the case, to have that information communicated to him.(2)Subsection (1) has effect subject to the following provisions of this section and to the provisions of sections 2, 9, 12 and 14.(3)Where a public authority—(a)reasonably requires further information in order to identify and locate the information requested, and(b)has informed the applicant of that requirement,the authority is not obliged to comply with subsection (1) unless it is supplied with that further information.(4)The information—(a)in respect of which the applicant is to be informed under subsection (1)(a), or(b)which is to be communicated under subsection (1)(b),is the information in question held at the time when the request is received, except that account may be taken of any amendment or deletion made between that time and the time when the information is to be communicated under subsection (1)(b), being an amendment or deletion that would have been made regardless of the receipt of the request.(5)A public authority is to be taken to have complied with subsection (1)(a) in relation to any information if it has communicated the information to the applicant in accordance with subsection (1)(b).(6)In this Act, the duty of a public authority to comply with subsection (1)(a) is referred to as “the duty to confirm or deny”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 Effect of the exemptions in Part II </span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Where any provision of Part II states that the duty to confirm or deny does not arise in relation to any information, the effect of the provision is that where either—(a)the provision confers absolute exemption, or(b)in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exclusion of the duty to confirm or deny outweighs the public interest in disclosing whether the public authority holds the information,section 1(1)(a) does not apply.(2)In respect of any information which is exempt information by virtue of any provision of Part II, section 1(1)(b) does not apply if or to the extent that—(a)the information is exempt information by virtue of a provision conferring absolute exemption, or(b)in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.(3)For the purposes of this section, the following provisions of Part II (and no others) are to be regarded as conferring absolute exemption—(a)section 21,(b)section 23,(c)section 32,(d)section 34,(e)section 36 so far as relating to information held by the House of Commons or the House of Lords,(f)in section 40—(i)subsection (1), and(ii)subsection (2) so far as relating to cases where the first condition referred to in that subsection is satisfied by virtue of subsection (3)(a)(i) or (b) of that section,(g)section 41, and(h)section 44.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3 Public authorities.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)In this Act “public authority” means—(a)subject to section 4(4), any body which, any other person who, or the holder of any office which—(i)is listed in Schedule 1, or(ii)is designated by order under section 5, or(b)a publicly-owned company as defined by section 6.(2)For the purposes of this Act, information is held by a public authority if—(a)it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person, or(b)it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4 Amendment of Schedule 1.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)The Secretary of State] may by order amend Schedule 1 by adding to that Schedule a reference to any body or the holder of any office which (in either case) is not for the time being listed in that Schedule but as respects which both the first and the second conditions below are satisfied.(2)The first condition is that the body or office—(a)is established by virtue of Her Majesty’s prerogative or by an enactment or by subordinate legislation, or(b)is established in any other way by a Minister of the Crown in his capacity as Minister, by a government department or by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister for Wales or the Counsel General to the Welsh Assembly Government].(3)The second condition is—(a)in the case of a body, that the body is wholly or partly constituted by appointment made by the Crown, by a Minister of the Crown, by a government department or by</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister for Wales or the Counsel General to the Welsh Assembly Government], or(b)in the case of an office, that appointments to the office are made by the Crown, by a Minister of the Crown, by a government department or by</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister for Wales or the Counsel General to the Welsh Assembly Government].(4)If either the first or the second condition above ceases to be satisfied as respects any body or office which is listed in Part VI or VII of Schedule 1, that body or the holder of that office shall cease to be a public authority by virtue of the entry in question.(5)The Secretary of State] may by order amend Schedule 1 by removing from Part VI or VII of that Schedule an entry relating to any body or office—(a)which has ceased to exist, or(b)as respects which either the first or the second condition above has ceased to be satisfied.(6)An order under subsection (1) may relate to a specified person or office or to persons or offices falling within a specified description.(7)Before making an order under subsection (1), the</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] shall—(a)if the order adds to Part II, III, IV or VI of Schedule 1 a reference to—(i)a body whose functions are exercisable only or mainly in or as regards Wales, or(ii)the holder of an office whose functions are exercisable only or mainly in or as regards Wales,consult</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the Welsh Ministers], and(b)if the order relates to a body which, or the holder of any office who, if the order were made, would be a Northern Ireland public authority, consult the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland.(8)This section has effect subject to section 80.(9)In this section “Minister of the Crown” includes a Northern Ireland Minister.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5 Further power to designate public authorities.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)The</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] may by order designate as a public authority for the purposes of this Act any person who is neither listed in Schedule 1 nor capable of being added to that Schedule by an order under section 4(1), but who—(a)appears to the Secretary of State to exercise functions of a public nature, or(b)is providing under a contract made with a public authority any service whose provision is a function of that authority.(2)An order under this section may designate a specified person or office or persons or offices falling within a specified description.(3)Before making an order under this section, the</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] shall consult every person to whom the order relates, or persons appearing to him to represent such persons.(4)This section has effect subject to section 80.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6 Publicly-owned companies.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)A company is a “publicly-owned company” for the purposes of section 3(1)(b) if—(a)it is wholly owned by the Crown, or(b)it is wholly owned by any public authority listed in Schedule 1 other than—(i)a government department, or(ii)any authority which is listed only in relation to particular information.(2)For the purposes of this section—(a)a company is wholly owned by the Crown if it has no members except—(i)Ministers of the Crown, government departments or companies wholly owned by the Crown, or(ii)persons acting on behalf of Ministers of the Crown, government departments or companies wholly owned by the Crown, and(b)a company is wholly owned by a public authority other than a government department if it has no members except—(i)that public authority or companies wholly owned by that public authority, or(ii)persons acting on behalf of that public authority or of companies wholly owned by that public authority.(3)In this section—“company” includes any body corporate; “Minister of the Crown” includes a Northern Ireland Minister. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7 Public authorities to which Act has limited application..</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Where a public authority is listed in Schedule 1 only in relation to information of a specified description, nothing in Parts I to V of this Act applies to any other information held by the authority.(2)An order under section 4(1) may, in adding an entry to Schedule 1, list the public authority only in relation to information of a specified description.(3)The</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] may by order amend Schedule 1—(a)by limiting to information of a specified description the entry relating to any public authority, or(b)by removing or amending any limitation to information of a specified description which is for the time being contained in any entry.(4)Before making an order under subsection (3), the</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] shall—(a)if the order relates to the National Assembly for Wales or a Welsh public authority referred to in section 83(1)(b)(ii) (subsidiary of the Assembly Commission), consult the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales,(aa)if the order relates to the Welsh Assembly Government or a Welsh public authority other than one referred to in section 83(1)(b)(ii), consult the First Minister for Wales,](b)if the order relates to the Northern Ireland Assembly, consult the Presiding Officer of that Assembly, and(c)if the order relates to a Northern Ireland department or a Northern Ireland public authority, consult the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland.(5)An order under section 5(1)(a) must specify the functions of the public authority designated by the order with respect to which the designation is to have effect; and nothing in Parts I to V of this Act applies to information which is held by the authority but does not relate to the exercise of those functions.(6)An order under section 5(1)(b) must specify the services provided under contract with respect to which the designation is to have effect; and nothing in Parts I to V of this Act applies to information which is held by the public authority designated by the order but does not relate to the provision of those services.(7)Nothing in Parts I to V of this Act applies in relation to any information held by a publicly-owned company which is excluded information in relation to that company.(8)In subsection (7) “excluded information”, in relation to a publicly-owned company, means information which is of a description specified in relation to that company in an order made by the</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] for the purposes of this subsection.(9)In this section “publicly-owned company” has the meaning given by section 6.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8 Request for information.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)In this Act any reference to a “request for information” is a reference to such a request which—(a)is in writing,(b)states the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence, and(c)describes the information requested.(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)(a), a request is to be treated as made in writing where the text of the request—(a)is transmitted by electronic means,(b)is received in legible form, and(c)is capable of being used for subsequent reference.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9 Fees.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)A public authority to whom a request for information is made may, within the period for complying with section 1(1), give the applicant a notice in writing (in this Act referred to as a “fees notice”) stating that a fee of an amount specified in the notice is to be charged by the authority for complying with section 1(1).(2)Where a fees notice has been given to the applicant, the public authority is not obliged to comply with section 1(1) unless the fee is paid within the period of three months beginning with the day on which the fees notice is given to the applicant.(3)Subject to subsection (5), any fee under this section must be determined by the public authority in accordance with regulations made by the</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State].(4)Regulations under subsection (3) may, in particular, provide—(a)that no fee is to be payable in prescribed cases,(b)that any fee is not to exceed such maximum as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with, the regulations, and(c)that any fee is to be calculated in such manner as may be prescribed by the regulations.(5)Subsection (3) does not apply where provision is made by or under any enactment as to the fee that may be charged by the public authority for the disclosure of the information.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10 Time for compliance with request.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a public authority must comply with section 1(1) promptly and in any event not later than the twentieth working day following the date of receipt.(2)Where the authority has given a fees notice to the applicant and the fee is paid in accordance with section 9(2), the working days in the period beginning with the day on which the fees notice is given to the applicant and ending with the day on which the fee is received by the authority are to be disregarded in calculating for the purposes of subsection (1) the twentieth working day following the date of receipt.(3)If, and to the extent that—(a)section 1(1)(a) would not apply if the condition in section 2(1)(b) were satisfied, or(b)section 1(1)(b) would not apply if the condition in section 2(2)(b) were satisfied,the public authority need not comply with section 1(1)(a) or (b) until such time as is reasonable in the circumstances; but this subsection does not affect the time by which any notice under section 17(1) must be given.(4)The</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] may by regulations provide that subsections (1) and (2) are to have effect as if any reference to the twentieth working day following the date of receipt were a reference to such other day, not later than the sixtieth working day following the date of receipt, as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with, the regulations.(5)Regulations under subsection (4) may—(a)prescribe different days in relation to different cases, and(b)confer a discretion on the Commissioner.(6)In this section—“the date of receipt” means— (a)the day on which the public authority receives the request for information, or(b)if later, the day on which it receives the information referred to in section 1(3);“working day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in any part of the United Kingdom. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11 Means by which communication to be made.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Where, on making his request for information, the applicant expresses a preference for communication by any one or more of the following means, namely—(a)the provision to the applicant of a copy of the information in permanent form or in another form acceptable to the applicant,(b)the provision to the applicant of a reasonable opportunity to inspect a record containing the information, and(c)the provision to the applicant of a digest or summary of the information in permanent form or in another form acceptable to the applicant,the public authority shall so far as reasonably practicable give effect to that preference.(2)In determining for the purposes of this section whether it is reasonably practicable to communicate information by particular means, the public authority may have regard to all the circumstances, including the cost of doing so.(3)Where the public authority determines that it is not reasonably practicable to comply with any preference expressed by the applicant in making his request, the authority shall notify the applicant of the reasons for its determination.(4)Subject to subsection (1), a public authority may comply with a request by communicating information by any means which are reasonable in the circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12 Exemption where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit </span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Section 1(1) does not oblige a public authority to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying with the request would exceed the appropriate limit.(2)Subsection (1) does not exempt the public authority from its obligation to comply with paragraph (a) of section 1(1) unless the estimated cost of complying with that paragraph alone would exceed the appropriate limit.(3)In subsections (1) and (2) “the appropriate limit” means such amount as may be prescribed, and different amounts may be prescribed in relation to different cases.(4)The</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] may by regulations provide that, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, where two or more requests for information are made to a public authority—(a)by one person, or(b)by different persons who appear to the public authority to be acting in concert or in pursuance of a campaign,the estimated cost of complying with any of the requests is to be taken to be the estimated total cost of complying with all of them.(5)The</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] may by regulations make provision for the purposes of this section as to the costs to be estimated and as to the manner in which they are to be estimated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13 Fees for disclosure where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)A public authority may charge for the communication of any information whose communication—(a)is not required by section 1(1) because the cost of complying with the request for information exceeds the amount which is the appropriate limit for the purposes of section 12(1) and (2), and(b)is not otherwise required by law,such fee as may be determined by the public authority in accordance with regulations made by the</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] .(2)Regulations under this section may, in particular, provide—(a)that any fee is not to exceed such maximum as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with, the regulations, and(b)that any fee is to be calculated in such manner as may be prescribed by the regulations.(3)Subsection (1) does not apply where provision is made by or under any enactment as to the fee that may be charged by the public authority for the disclosure of the information.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14 Vexatious or repeated requests.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Section 1(1) does not oblige a public authority to comply with a request for information if the request is vexatious.(2)Where a public authority has previously complied with a request for information which was made by any person, it is not obliged to comply with a subsequent identical or substantially similar request from that person unless a reasonable interval has elapsed between compliance with the previous request and the making of the current request.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">15 Special provisions relating to public records transferred to Public Record Office, etc.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Where—(a)the appropriate records authority receives a request for information which relates to information which is, or if it existed would be, contained in a transferred public record, and(b)either of the conditions in subsection (2) is satisfied in relation to any of that information,that authority shall, within the period for complying with section 1(1), send a copy of the request to the responsible authority.(2)The conditions referred to in subsection (1)(b) are—(a)that the duty to confirm or deny is expressed to be excluded only by a provision of Part II not specified in subsection (3) of section 2, and(b)that the information is exempt information only by virtue of a provision of Part II not specified in that subsection.(3)On receiving the copy, the responsible authority shall, within such time as is reasonable in all the circumstances, inform the appropriate records authority of the determination required by virtue of subsection (3) or (4) of section 66.(4)In this Act “transferred public record” means a public record which has been transferred—(a)to the Public Record Office,(b)to another place of deposit appointed by the Lord Chancellor under the Public Records Act 1958, or(c)to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.(5)In this Act—“appropriate records authority”, in relation to a transferred public record, means— (a)in a case falling within subsection (4)(a), the Public Record Office,(b)in a case falling within subsection (4)(b), the Lord Chancellor, and(c)in a case falling within subsection (4)(c), the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland;“responsible authority”, in relation to a transferred public record, means— (a)in the case of a record transferred as mentioned in subsection (4)(a) or (b) from a government department in the charge of a Minister of the Crown, the Minister of the Crown who appears to the Lord Chancellor to be primarily concerned,(b)in the case of a record transferred as mentioned in subsection (4)(a) or (b) from any other person, the person who appears to the Lord Chancellor to be primarily concerned,(c)in the case of a record transferred to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland from a government department in the charge of a Minister of the Crown, the Minister of the Crown who appears to the appropriate Northern Ireland Minister to be primarily concerned,(d)in the case of a record transferred to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland from a Northern Ireland department, the Northern Ireland Minister who appears to the appropriate Northern Ireland Minister to be primarily concerned, or(e)in the case of a record transferred to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland from any other person, the person who appears to the appropriate Northern Ireland Minister to be primarily concerned.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16 Duty to provide advice and assistance. </span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)It shall be the duty of a public authority to provide advice and assistance, so far as it would be reasonable to expect the authority to do so, to persons who propose to make, or have made, requests for information to it.(2)Any public authority which, in relation to the provision of advice or assistance in any case, conforms with the code of practice under section 45 is to be taken to comply with the duty imposed by subsection (1) in relation to that case.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">17 Refusal of request</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)A public authority which, in relation to any request for information, is to any extent relying on a claim that any provision of Part II relating to the duty to confirm or deny is relevant to the request or on a claim that information is exempt information must, within the time for complying with section 1(1), give the applicant a notice which—(a)states that fact,(b)specifies the exemption in question, and(c)states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.(2)Where—(a)in relation to any request for information, a public authority is, as respects any information, relying on a claim—(i)that any provision of Part II which relates to the duty to confirm or deny and is not specified in section 2(3) is relevant to the request, or(ii)that the information is exempt information only by virtue of a provision not specified in section 2(3), and(b)at the time when the notice under subsection (1) is given to the applicant, the public authority (or, in a case falling within section 66(3) or (4), the responsible authority) has not yet reached a decision as to the application of subsection (1)(b) or (2)(b) of section 2,the notice under subsection (1) must indicate that no decision as to the application of that provision has yet been reached and must contain an estimate of the date by which the authority expects that such a decision will have been reached.(3)A public authority which, in relation to any request for information, is to any extent relying on a claim that subsection (1)(b) or (2)(b) of section 2 applies must, either in the notice under subsection (1) or in a separate notice given within such time as is reasonable in the circumstances, state the reasons for claiming—(a)that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exclusion of the duty to confirm or deny outweighs the public interest in disclosing whether the authority holds the information, or(b)that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.(4)A public authority is not obliged to make a statement under subsection (1)(c) or (3) if, or to the extent that, the statement would involve the disclosure of information which would itself be exempt information.(5)A public authority which, in relation to any request for information, is relying on a claim that section 12 or 14 applies must, within the time for complying with section 1(1), give the applicant a notice stating that fact.(6)Subsection (5) does not apply where—(a)the public authority is relying on a claim that section 14 applies,(b)the authority has given the applicant a notice, in relation to a previous request for information, stating that it is relying on such a claim, and(c)it would in all the circumstances be unreasonable to expect the authority to serve a further notice under subsection (5) in relation to the current request.(7)A notice under subsection (1), (3) or (5) must—(a)contain particulars of any procedure provided by the public authority for dealing with complaints about the handling of requests for information or state that the authority does not provide such a procedure, and(b)contain particulars of the right conferred by section 50.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">18 The Information Commissioner and the Information Tribunal. </span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)The Data Protection Commissioner shall be known instead as the Information Commissioner.(2)The Data Protection Tribunal shall be known instead as the Information Tribunal.(3)In this Act—(a)the Information Commissioner is referred to as “the Commissioner”, and(b)the Information Tribunal is referred to as “the Tribunal”.(4)Schedule 2 (which makes provision consequential on subsections (1) and (2) and amendments of the Data Protection Act 1998 relating to the extension by this Act of the functions of the Commissioner and the Tribunal) has effect.(5)If the person who held office as Data Protection Commissioner immediately before the day on which this Act is passed remains in office as Information Commissioner at the end of the period of two years beginning with that day, he shall vacate his office at the end of that period.(6)Subsection (5) does not prevent the re-appointment of a person whose appointment is terminated by that subsection.(7)In the application of paragraph 2(4)(b) and (5) of Schedule 5 to the Data Protection Act 1998 (Commissioner not to serve for more than fifteen years and not to be appointed, except in special circumstances, for a third or subsequent term) to anything done after the passing of this Act, there shall be left out of account any term of office served by virtue of an appointment made before the passing of this Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span> </span>19 Publication schemes.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1)It shall be the duty of every public authority—(a)to adopt and maintain a scheme which relates to the publication of information by the authority and is approved by the Commissioner (in this Act referred to as a “publication scheme”),(b)to publish information in accordance with its publication scheme, and(c)from time to time to review its publication scheme.(2)A publication scheme must—(a)specify classes of information which the public authority publishes or intends to publish,(b)specify the manner in which information of each class is, or is intended to be, published, and(c)specify whether the material is, or is intended to be, available to the public free of charge or on payment.(3)In adopting or reviewing a publication scheme, a public authority shall have regard to the public interest—(a)in allowing public access to information held by the authority, and(b)in the publication of reasons for decisions made by the authority.(4)A public authority shall publish its publication scheme in such manner as it thinks fit.(5)The Commissioner may, when approving a scheme, provide that his approval is to expire at the end of a specified period.(6)Where the Commissioner has approved the publication scheme of any public authority, he may at any time give notice to the public authority revoking his approval of the scheme as from the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which the notice is given.(7)Where the Commissioner—(a)refuses to approve a proposed publication scheme, or(b)revokes his approval of a publication scheme,he must give the public authority a statement of his reasons for doing so.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20 Model publication schemes. </span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)The Commissioner may from time to time approve, in relation to public authorities falling within particular classes, model publication schemes prepared by him or by other persons.(2)Where a public authority falling within the class to which an approved model scheme relates adopts such a scheme without modification, no further approval of the Commissioner is required so long as the model scheme remains approved; and where such an authority adopts such a scheme with modifications, the approval of the Commissioner is required only in relation to the modifications.(3)The Commissioner may, when approving a model publication scheme, provide that his approval is to expire at the end of a specified period.(4)Where the Commissioner has approved a model publication scheme, he may at any time publish, in such manner as he thinks fit, a notice revoking his approval of the scheme as from the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which the notice is published.(5)Where the Commissioner refuses to approve a proposed model publication scheme on the application of any person, he must give the person who applied for approval of the scheme a statement of the reasons for his refusal.(6)Where the Commissioner refuses to approve any modifications under subsection (2), he must give the public authority a statement of the reasons for his refusal.(7)Where the Commissioner revokes his approval of a model publication scheme, he must include in the notice under subsection (4) a statement of his reasons for doing so.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">21 Information accessible to applicant by other means. </span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant otherwise than under section 1 is exempt information.(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)—(a)information may be reasonably accessible to the applicant even though it is accessible only on payment, and(b)information is to be taken to be reasonably accessible to the applicant if it is information which the public authority or any other person is obliged by or under any enactment to communicate (otherwise than by making the information available for inspection) to members of the public on request, whether free of charge or on payment.(3)For the purposes of subsection (1), information which is held by a public authority and does not fall within subsection (2)(b) is not to be regarded as reasonably accessible to the applicant merely because the information is available from the public authority itself on request, unless the information is made available in accordance with the authority’s publication scheme and any payment required is specified in, or determined in accordance with, the scheme.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">22 Information intended for future publication.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information is exempt information if—(a)the information is held by the public authority with a view to its publication, by the authority or any other person, at some future date (whether determined or not),(b)the information was already held with a view to such publication at the time when the request for information was made, and(c)it is reasonable in all the circumstances that the information should be withheld from disclosure until the date referred to in paragraph (a).(2)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would involve the disclosure of any information (whether or not already recorded) which falls within subsection (1).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">23 Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with security matters. </span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information held by a public authority is exempt information if it was directly or indirectly supplied to the public authority by, or relates to, any of the bodies specified in subsection (3).(2)A certificate signed by a Minister of the Crown certifying that the information to which it applies was directly or indirectly supplied by, or relates to, any of the bodies specified in subsection (3) shall, subject to section 60, be conclusive evidence of that fact.(3)The bodies referred to in subsections (1) and (2) are—(a)the Security Service,(b)the Secret Intelligence Service,(c)the Government Communications Headquarters,(d)the special forces,(e)the Tribunal established under section 65 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000,(f)the Tribunal established under section 7 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985,(g)the Tribunal established under section 5 of the Security Service Act 1989,(h)the Tribunal established under section 9 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994,(i)the Security Vetting Appeals Panel,(j)the Security Commission,(k)the National Criminal Intelligence Service, . . . (l)the Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service.[(m)the Serious Organised Crime Agency.](4)In subsection (3)(c) “the Government Communications Headquarters” includes any unit or part of a unit of the armed forces of the Crown which is for the time being required by the Secretary of State to assist the Government Communications Headquarters in carrying out its functions.(5)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would involve the disclosure of any information (whether or not already recorded) which was directly or indirectly supplied to the public authority by, or relates to, any of the bodies specified in subsection (3).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">24 National security</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information which does not fall within section 23(1) is exempt information if exemption from section 1(1)(b) is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security.(2)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, exemption from section 1(1)(a) is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security.(3)A certificate signed by a Minister of the Crown certifying that exemption from section 1(1)(b), or from section 1(1)(a) and (b), is, or at any time was, required for the purpose of safeguarding national security shall, subject to section 60, be conclusive evidence of that fact.(4)A certificate under subsection (3) may identify the information to which it applies by means of a general description and may be expressed to have prospective effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">25 Certificates under ss. 23 and 24: supplementary provisions. </span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)A document purporting to be a certificate under section 23(2) or 24(3) shall be received in evidence and deemed to be such a certificate unless the contrary is proved.(2)A document which purports to be certified by or on behalf of a Minister of the Crown as a true copy of a certificate issued by that Minister under section 23(2) or 24(3) shall in any legal proceedings be evidence (or, in Scotland, sufficient evidence) of that certificate.(3)The power conferred by section 23(2) or 24(3) on a Minister of the Crown shall not be exercisable except by a Minister who is a member of the Cabinet or by the Attorney General, the Advocate General for Scotland or the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">26 Defence. </span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice—(a)the defence of the British Islands or of any colony, or(b)the capability, effectiveness or security of any relevant forces.(2)In subsection (1)(b) “relevant forces” means—(a)the armed forces of the Crown, and(b)any forces co-operating with those forces,or any part of any of those forces.(3)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would, or would be likely to, prejudice any of the matters mentioned in subsection (1).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">27 International relations. </span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice—(a)relations between the United Kingdom and any other State,(b)relations between the United Kingdom and any international organisation or international court,(c)the interests of the United Kingdom abroad, or(d)the promotion or protection by the United Kingdom of its interests abroad.(2)Information is also exempt information if it is confidential information obtained from a State other than the United Kingdom or from an international organisation or international court.(3)For the purposes of this section, any information obtained from a State, organisation or court is confidential at any time while the terms on which it was obtained require it to be held in confidence or while the circumstances in which it was obtained make it reasonable for the State, organisation or court to expect that it will be so held.(4)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a)—(a)would, or would be likely to, prejudice any of the matters mentioned in subsection (1), or(b)would involve the disclosure of any information (whether or not already recorded) which is confidential information obtained from a State other than the United Kingdom or from an international organisation or international court.(5)In this section—“international court” means any international court which is not an international organisation and which is established— (a)by a resolution of an international organisation of which the United Kingdom is a member, or(b)by an international agreement to which the United Kingdom is a party;“international organisation” means any international organisation whose members include any two or more States, or any organ of such an organisation; “State” includes the government of any State and any organ of its government, and references to a State other than the United Kingdom include references to any territory outside the United Kingdom. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">28 Relations within the United Kingdom. </span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice relations between any administration in the United Kingdom and any other such administration.(2)In subsection (1) “administration in the United Kingdom” means—(a)the government of the United Kingdom,(b)the Scottish Administration,(c)the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly, or (d)the Welsh Assembly Government.](3)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would, or would be likely to, prejudice any of the matters mentioned in subsection (1).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">29 The economy </span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice—(a)the economic interests of the United Kingdom or of any part of the United Kingdom, or(b)the financial interests of any administration in the United Kingdom, as defined by section 28(2).(2)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would, or would be likely to, prejudice any of the matters mentioned in subsection (1).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">30 Investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information held by a public authority is exempt information if it has at any time been held by the authority for the purposes of—(a)any investigation which the public authority has a duty to conduct with a view to it being ascertained—(i)whether a person should be charged with an offence, or(ii)whether a person charged with an offence is guilty of it,(b)any investigation which is conducted by the authority and in the circumstances may lead to a decision by the authority to institute criminal proceedings which the authority has power to conduct, or(c)any criminal proceedings which the authority has power to conduct.(2)Information held by a public authority is exempt information if—(a)it was obtained or recorded by the authority for the purposes of its functions relating to—(i)investigations falling within subsection (1)(a) or (b),(ii)criminal proceedings which the authority has power to conduct,(iii)investigations (other than investigations falling within subsection (1)(a) or (b)) which are conducted by the authority for any of the purposes specified in section 31(2) and either by virtue of Her Majesty’s prerogative or by virtue of powers conferred by or under any enactment, or(iv)civil proceedings which are brought by or on behalf of the authority and arise out of such investigations, and(b)it relates to the obtaining of information from confidential sources.(3)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise in relation to information which is (or if it were held by the public authority would be) exempt information by virtue of subsection (1) or (2).(4)In relation to the institution or conduct of criminal proceedings or the power to conduct them, references in subsection (1)(b) or (c) and subsection (2)(a) to the public authority include references—(a)to any officer of the authority,(b)in the case of a government department other than a Northern Ireland department, to the Minister of the Crown in charge of the department, and(c)in the case of a Northern Ireland department, to the Northern Ireland Minister in charge of the department.(5)In this section—“criminal proceedings” includes service law proceedings (as defined by section 324(5) of the Armed Forces Act 2006); “offence” includes a service offence (as defined by section 50 of that Act).] (6)In the application of this section to Scotland—(a)in subsection (1)(b), for the words from “a decision” to the end there is substituted “ a decision by the authority to make a report to the procurator fiscal for the purpose of enabling him to determine whether criminal proceedings should be instituted”,(b)in subsections (1)(c) and (2)(a)(ii) for “which the authority has power to conduct” there is substituted “ which have been instituted in consequence of a report made by the authority to the procurator fiscal”, and(c)for any reference to a person being charged with an offence there is substituted a reference to the person being prosecuted for the offence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">31 Law enforcement</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information which is not exempt information by virtue of section 30 is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice—(a)the prevention or detection of crime,(b)the apprehension or prosecution of offenders,(c)the administration of justice,(d)the assessment or collection of any tax or duty or of any imposition of a similar nature,(e)the operation of the immigration controls,(f)the maintenance of security and good order in prisons or in other institutions where persons are lawfully detained,(g)the exercise by any public authority of its functions for any of the purposes specified in subsection (2),(h)any civil proceedings which are brought by or on behalf of a public authority and arise out of an investigation conducted, for any of the purposes specified in subsection (2), by or on behalf of the authority by virtue of Her Majesty’s prerogative or by virtue of powers conferred by or under an enactment, or(i)any inquiry held under the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiries (Scotland) Act 1976 to the extent that the inquiry arises out of an investigation conducted, for any of the purposes specified in subsection (2), by or on behalf of the authority by virtue of Her Majesty’s prerogative or by virtue of powers conferred by or under an enactment.(2)The purposes referred to in subsection (1)(g) to (i) are—(a)the purpose of ascertaining whether any person has failed to comply with the law,(b)the purpose of ascertaining whether any person is responsible for any conduct which is improper,(c)the purpose of ascertaining whether circumstances which would justify regulatory action in pursuance of any enactment exist or may arise,(d)the purpose of ascertaining a person’s fitness or competence in relation to the management of bodies corporate or in relation to any profession or other activity which he is, or seeks to become, authorised to carry on,(e)the purpose of ascertaining the cause of an accident,(f)the purpose of protecting charities against misconduct or mismanagement (whether by trustees or other persons) in their administration,(g)the purpose of protecting the property of charities from loss or misapplication,(h)the purpose of recovering the property of charities,(i)the purpose of securing the health, safety and welfare of persons at work, and(j)the purpose of protecting persons other than persons at work against risk to health or safety arising out of or in connection with the actions of persons at work.(3)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would, or would be likely to, prejudice any of the matters mentioned in subsection (1).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">32 Court records, etc</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information held by a public authority is exempt information if it is held only by virtue of being contained in—(a)any document filed with, or otherwise placed in the custody of, a court for the purposes of proceedings in a particular cause or matter,(b)any document served upon, or by, a public authority for the purposes of proceedings in a particular cause or matter, or(c)any document created by—(i)a court, or(ii)a member of the administrative staff of a court,for the purposes of proceedings in a particular cause or matter.(2)Information held by a public authority is exempt information if it is held only by virtue of being contained in—(a)any document placed in the custody of a person conducting an inquiry or arbitration, for the purposes of the inquiry or arbitration, or(b)any document created by a person conducting an inquiry or arbitration, for the purposes of the inquiry or arbitration.(3)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise in relation to information which is (or if it were held by the public authority would be) exempt information by virtue of this section.(4)In this section—(a)“court” includes any tribunal or body exercising the judicial power of the State,(b)“proceedings in a particular cause or matter” includes any inquest or post-mortem examination,(c)“inquiry” means any inquiry or hearing held under any provision contained in, or made under, an enactment, and(d)except in relation to Scotland, “arbitration” means any arbitration to which Part I of the Arbitration Act 1996 applies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">33 Audit functions .</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)This section applies to any public authority which has functions in relation to—(a)the audit of the accounts of other public authorities, or(b)the examination of the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which other public authorities use their resources in discharging their functions.(2)Information held by a public authority to which this section applies is exempt information if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the exercise of any of the authority’s functions in relation to any of the matters referred to in subsection (1).(3)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise in relation to a public authority to which this section applies if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would, or would be likely to, prejudice the exercise of any of the authority’s functions in relation to any of the matters referred to in subsection (1).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">34 Parliamentary privilege</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information is exempt information if exemption from section 1(1)(b) is required for the purpose of avoiding an infringement of the privileges of either House of Parliament.(2)The duty to confirm or deny does not apply if, or to the extent that, exemption from section 1(1)(a) is required for the purpose of avoiding an infringement of the privileges of either House of Parliament.(3)A certificate signed by the appropriate authority certifying that exemption from section 1(1)(b), or from section 1(1)(a) and (b), is, or at any time was, required for the purpose of avoiding an infringement of the privileges of either House of Parliament shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.(4)In subsection (3) “the appropriate authority” means—(a)in relation to the House of Commons, the Speaker of that House, and(b)in relation to the House of Lords, the Clerk of the Parliaments.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">35 Formulation of government policy, etc</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information held by a government department or by</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the Welsh Assembly Government] is exempt information if it relates to—(a)the formulation or development of government policy,(b)Ministerial communications,(c)the provision of advice by any of the Law Officers or any request for the provision of such advice, or(d)the operation of any Ministerial private office.(2)Once a decision as to government policy has been taken, any statistical information used to provide an informed background to the taking of the decision is not to be regarded—(a)for the purposes of subsection (1)(a), as relating to the formulation or development of government policy, or(b)for the purposes of subsection (1)(b), as relating to Ministerial communications.(3)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise in relation to information which is (or if it were held by the public authority would be) exempt information by virtue of subsection (1).(4)In making any determination required by section 2(1)(b) or (2)(b) in relation to information which is exempt information by virtue of subsection (1)(a), regard shall be had to the particular public interest in the disclosure of factual information which has been used, or is intended to be used, to provide an informed background to decision-taking.(5)In this section—“government policy” includes the policy of the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the policy of</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the Welsh Assembly Government]; “the Law Officers” means the Attorney General, the Solicitor General, the Advocate General for Scotland, the Lord Advocate, the Solicitor General for Scotland, the Counsel General to the Welsh Assembly Government] and the Attorney General for Northern Ireland; “Ministerial communications” means any communications— (a)between Ministers of the Crown,(b)between Northern Ireland Ministers, including Northern Ireland junior Ministers, or(c) between members of the Welsh Assembly Government]and includes, in particular, proceedings of the Cabinet or of any committee of the Cabinet, proceedings of the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and proceedings of</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the Cabinet or any committee of the Cabinet of the Welsh Assembly Government];“Ministerial private office” means any part of a government department which provides personal administrative support to a Minister of the Crown, to a Northern Ireland Minister or a Northern Ireland junior Minister or</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">any part of the administration of the Welsh Assembly Government providing personal administrative support to the members of the Welsh Assembly Government]; “Northern Ireland junior Minister” means a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly appointed as a junior Minister under section 19 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">36 Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)This section applies to—(a)information which is held by a government department or by</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the Welsh Assembly Government] and is not exempt information by virtue of section 35, and(b)information which is held by any other public authority.(2)Information to which this section applies is exempt information if, in the reasonable opinion of a qualified person, disclosure of the information under this Act—(a)would, or would be likely to, prejudice—(i)the maintenance of the convention of the collective responsibility of Ministers of the Crown, or(ii)the work of the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly, or (iii)the work of the Cabinet of the Welsh Assembly Government.](b)would, or would be likely to, inhibit—(i)the free and frank provision of advice, or(ii)the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation, or(c)would otherwise prejudice, or would be likely otherwise to prejudice, the effective conduct of public affairs.(3)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise in relation to information to which this section applies (or would apply if held by the public authority) if, or to the extent that, in the reasonable opinion of a qualified person, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would, or would be likely to, have any of the effects mentioned in subsection (2).(4)In relation to statistical information, subsections (2) and (3) shall have effect with the omission of the words “in the reasonable opinion of a qualified person”.(5)In subsections (2) and (3) “qualified person”—(a)in relation to information held by a government department in the charge of a Minister of the Crown, means any Minister of the Crown,(b)in relation to information held by a Northern Ireland department, means the Northern Ireland Minister in charge of the department,(c)in relation to information held by any other government department, means the commissioners or other person in charge of that department,(d)in relation to information held by the House of Commons, means the Speaker of that House,(e)in relation to information held by the House of Lords, means the Clerk of the Parliaments,(f)in relation to information held by the Northern Ireland Assembly, means the Presiding Officer, (g)in relation to information held by the Welsh Assembly Government, means the Welsh Ministers or the Counsel General to the Welsh Assembly Government,(ga)in relation to information held by the National Assembly for Wales, means the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales,(gb)in relation to information held by any Welsh public authority (other than one referred to in section 83(1)(b)(ii) (subsidiary of the Assembly Commission), the Auditor General for Wales or the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales), means—(i)the public authority, or(ii)any officer or employee of the authority authorised by the Welsh Ministers or the Counsel General to the Welsh Assembly Government”,(gc)in relation to information held by a Welsh public authority referred to in section 83(1)(b)(ii), means—(i)the public authority, or(ii)any officer or employee of the authority authorised by the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales,](i)in relation to information held by the National Audit Office, means the Comptroller and Auditor General,(j)in relation to information held by the Northern Ireland Audit Office, means the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland,(k)in relation to information held by the Auditor General for Wales, means the Auditor General for Wales, (ka)in relation to information held by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, means the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales,](l)in relation to information held by any Northern Ireland public authority other than the Northern Ireland Audit Office, means—(i)the public authority, or(ii)any officer or employee of the authority authorised by the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland acting jointly,(m)in relation to information held by the Greater London Authority, means the Mayor of London,(n)in relation to information held by a functional body within the meaning of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, means the chairman of that functional body, and(o)in relation to information held by any public authority not falling within any of paragraphs (a) to (n), means—(i)a Minister of the Crown,(ii)the public authority, if authorised for the purposes of this section by a Minister of the Crown, or(iii)any officer or employee of the public authority who is authorised for the purposes of this section by a Minister of the Crown.(6)Any authorisation for the purposes of this section—(a)may relate to a specified person or to persons falling within a specified class,(b)may be general or limited to particular classes of case, and(c)may be granted subject to conditions.(7)A certificate signed by the qualified person referred to in subsection (5)(d) or (e) above certifying that in his reasonable opinion—(a)disclosure of information held by either House of Parliament, or(b)compliance with section 1(1)(a) by either House,would, or would be likely to, have any of the effects mentioned in subsection (2) shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">37 Communications with Her Majesty, etc. and honours</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information is exempt information if it relates to—(a)communications with Her Majesty, with other members of the Royal Family or with the Royal Household, or(b)the conferring by the Crown of any honour or dignity.(2)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise in relation to information which is (or if it were held by the public authority would be) exempt information by virtue of subsection (1).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">38 Health and safety .</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to—(a)endanger the physical or mental health of any individual, or(b)endanger the safety of any individual.(2)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would, or would be likely to, have either of the effects mentioned in subsection (1).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">39 Environmental information </span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information is exempt information if the public authority holding it—(a)is obliged by</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">environmental information regulations] to make the information available to the public in accordance with the regulations, or(b)would be so obliged but for any exemption contained in the regulations.(1A)In subsection (1) “environmental information regulations” means—(a)regulations made under section 74, or(b)regulations made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 for the purpose of implementing any Community obligation relating to public access to, and the dissemination of, information on the environment.](2)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise in relation to information which is (or if it were held by the public authority would be) exempt information by virtue of subsection (1).(3)Subsection (1)(a) does not limit the generality of section 21(1).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">40 Personal information</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Any information to which a request for information relates is exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject.(2)Any information to which a request for information relates is also exempt information if—(a)it constitutes personal data which do not fall within subsection (1), and(b)either the first or the second condition below is satisfied.(3)The first condition is—(a)in a case where the information falls within any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of the definition of “data” in section 1(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998, that the disclosure of the information to a member of the public otherwise than under this Act would contravene—(i)any of the data protection principles, or(ii)section 10 of that Act (right to prevent processing likely to cause damage or distress), and(b)in any other case, that the disclosure of the information to a member of the public otherwise than under this Act would contravene any of the data protection principles if the exemptions in section 33A(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998 (which relate to manual data held by public authorities) were disregarded.(4)The second condition is that by virtue of any provision of Part IV of the Data Protection Act 1998 the information is exempt from section 7(1)(c) of that Act (data subject’s right of access to personal data).(5)The duty to confirm or deny—(a)does not arise in relation to information which is (or if it were held by the public authority would be) exempt information by virtue of subsection (1), and(b)does not arise in relation to other information if or to the extent that either—(i)the giving to a member of the public of the confirmation or denial that would have to be given to comply with section 1(1)(a) would (apart from this Act) contravene any of the data protection principles or section 10 of the Data Protection Act 1998 or would do so if the exemptions in section 33A(1) of that Act were disregarded, or(ii)by virtue of any provision of Part IV of the Data Protection Act 1998 the information is exempt from section 7(1)(a) of that Act (data subject’s right to be informed whether personal data being processed).(6)In determining for the purposes of this section whether anything done before 24th October 2007 would contravene any of the data protection principles, the exemptions in Part III of Schedule 8 to the Data Protection Act 1998 shall be disregarded.(7)In this section—“the data protection principles” means the principles set out in Part I of Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 1998, as read subject to Part II of that Schedule and section 27(1) of that Act; “data subject” has the same meaning as in section 1(1) of that Act; “personal data” has the same meaning as in section 1(1) of that Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>41 Information provided in confidence. </b>(1)Information is exempt information if—(a)it was obtained by the public authority from any other person (including another public authority), and(b)the disclosure of the information to the public (otherwise than under this Act) by the public authority holding it would constitute a breach of confidence actionable by that or any other person.(2)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, the confirmation or denial that would have to be given to comply with section 1(1)(a) would (apart from this Act) constitute an actionable breach of confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">42 Legal professional privilege.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1)Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege or, in Scotland, to confidentiality of communications could be maintained in legal proceedings is exempt information.(2)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would involve the disclosure of any information (whether or not already recorded) in respect of which such a claim could be maintained in legal proceedings.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">43 Commercial interests.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information is exempt information if it constitutes a trade secret.(2)Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).(3)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would, or would be likely to, prejudice the interests mentioned in subsection (2).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">44 Prohibitions on disclosure.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Information is exempt information if its disclosure (otherwise than under this Act) by the public authority holding it—(a)is prohibited by or under any enactment,(b)is incompatible with any Community obligation, or(c)would constitute or be punishable as a contempt of court.(2)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if the confirmation or denial that would have to be given to comply with section 1(1)(a) would (apart from this Act) fall within any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1).<b>Part IIIGeneral functions of Secretary of State, Lord Chancellor and Information Commissioner<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">45 Issue of code of practice by Secretary of State.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)The</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] shall issue, and may from time to time revise, a code of practice providing guidance to public authorities as to the practice which it would, in his opinion, be desirable for them to follow in connection with the discharge of the authorities’ functions under Part I.(2)The code of practice must, in particular, include provision relating to—(a)the provision of advice and assistance by public authorities to persons who propose to make, or have made, requests for information to them,(b)the transfer of requests by one public authority to another public authority by which the information requested is or may be held,(c)consultation with persons to whom the information requested relates or persons whose interests are likely to be affected by the disclosure of information,(d)the inclusion in contracts entered into by public authorities of terms relating to the disclosure of information, and(e)the provision by public authorities of procedures for dealing with complaints about the handling by them of requests for information.(3)The code may make different provision for different public authorities.(4)Before issuing or revising any code under this section, the</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] shall consult the Commissioner.(5)The</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] shall lay before each House of Parliament any code or revised code made under this section.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">46 Issue of code of practice by Lord Chancellor.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)The Lord Chancellor shall issue, and may from time to time revise, a code of practice providing guidance to relevant authorities as to the practice which it would, in his opinion, be desirable for them to follow in connection with the keeping, management and destruction of their records.(2)For the purpose of facilitating the performance by the Public Record Office, the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and other public authorities of their functions under this Act in relation to records which are public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act 1958 or the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923, the code may also include guidance as to—(a)the practice to be adopted in relation to the transfer of records under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958 or section 3 of the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923, and(b)the practice of reviewing records before they are transferred under those provisions.(3)In exercising his functions under this section, the Lord Chancellor shall have regard to the public interest in allowing public access to information held by relevant authorities.(4)The code may make different provision for different relevant authorities.(5)Before issuing or revising any code under this section the Lord Chancellor shall consult—(a)the Secretary of State,](b)the Commissioner, and(c)in relation to Northern Ireland, the appropriate Northern Ireland Minister.(6)The Lord Chancellor shall lay before each House of Parliament any code or revised code made under this section.(7)In this section “relevant authority” means—(a)any public authority, and(b)any office or body which is not a public authority but whose administrative and departmental records are public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act 1958 or the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">47 General functions of Commissioner.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)It shall be the duty of the Commissioner to promote the following of good practice by public authorities and, in particular, so to perform his functions under this Act as to promote the observance by public authorities of—(a)the requirements of this Act, and(b)the provisions of the codes of practice under sections 45 and 46.(2)The Commissioner shall arrange for the dissemination in such form and manner as he considers appropriate of such information as it may appear to him expedient to give to the public—(a)about the operation of this Act,(b)about good practice, and(c)about other matters within the scope of his functions under this Act,and may give advice to any person as to any of those matters.(3)The Commissioner may, with the consent of any public authority, assess whether that authority is following good practice.(4)The Commissioner may charge such sums as he may with the consent of the</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] determine for any services provided by the Commissioner under this section.(5)The Commissioner shall from time to time as he considers appropriate—(a)consult the Keeper of Public Records about the promotion by the Commissioner of the observance by public authorities of the provisions of the code of practice under section 46 in relation to records which are public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act 1958, and(b)consult the Deputy Keeper of the Records of Northern Ireland about the promotion by the Commissioner of the observance by public authorities of those provisions in relation to records which are public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923.(6)In this section “good practice”, in relation to a public authority, means such practice in the discharge of its functions under this Act as appears to the Commissioner to be desirable, and includes (but is not limited to) compliance with the requirements of this Act and the provisions of the codes of practice under sections 45 and 46.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">48 Recommendations as to good practice.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)If it appears to the Commissioner that the practice of a public authority in relation to the exercise of its functions under this Act does not conform with that proposed in the codes of practice under sections 45 and 46, he may give to the authority a recommendation (in this section referred to as a “practice recommendation”) specifying the steps which ought in his opinion to be taken for promoting such conformity.(2)A practice recommendation must be given in writing and must refer to the particular provisions of the code of practice with which, in the Commissioner’s opinion, the public authority’s practice does not conform.(3)Before giving to a public authority other than the Public Record Office a practice recommendation which relates to conformity with the code of practice under section 46 in respect of records which are public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act 1958, the Commissioner shall consult the Keeper of Public Records.(4)Before giving to a public authority other than the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland a practice recommendation which relates to conformity with the code of practice under section 46 in respect of records which are public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923, the Commissioner shall consult the Deputy Keeper of the Records of Northern Ireland..<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>49 Reports to be laid before Parliament. </b>(1)The Commissioner shall lay annually before each House of Parliament a general report on the exercise of his functions under this Act.(2)The Commissioner may from time to time lay before each House of Parliament such other reports with respect to those functions as he thinks fit.<b>Part IVEnforcement<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">50 Application for decision by Commissioner.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Any person (in this section referred to as “the complainant”) may apply to the Commissioner for a decision whether, in any specified respect, a request for information made by the complainant to a public authority has been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of Part I.(2)On receiving an application under this section, the Commissioner shall make a decision unless it appears to him—(a)that the complainant has not exhausted any complaints procedure which is provided by the public authority in conformity with the code of practice under section 45,(b)that there has been undue delay in making the application,(c)that the application is frivolous or vexatious, or(d)that the application has been withdrawn or abandoned.(3)Where the Commissioner has received an application under this section, he shall either—(a)notify the complainant that he has not made any decision under this section as a result of the application and of his grounds for not doing so, or(b)serve notice of his decision (in this Act referred to as a “decision notice”) on the complainant and the public authority.(4)Where the Commissioner decides that a public authority—(a)has failed to communicate information, or to provide confirmation or denial, in a case where it is required to do so by section 1(1), or(b)has failed to comply with any of the requirements of sections 11 and 17,the decision notice must specify the steps which must be taken by the authority for complying with that requirement and the period within which they must be taken.(5)A decision notice must contain particulars of the right of appeal conferred by section 57.(6)Where a decision notice requires steps to be taken by the public authority within a specified period, the time specified in the notice must not expire before the end of the period within which an appeal can be brought against the notice and, if such an appeal is brought, no step which is affected by the appeal need be taken pending the determination or withdrawal of the appeal.(7)This section has effect subject to section 53.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">51 Information notices.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1)If the Commissioner—(a)has received an application under section 50, or(b)reasonably requires any information—(i)for the purpose of determining whether a public authority has complied or is complying with any of the requirements of Part I, or(ii)for the purpose of determining whether the practice of a public authority in relation to the exercise of its functions under this Act conforms with that proposed in the codes of practice under sections 45 and 46,he may serve the authority with a notice (in this Act referred to as “an information notice”) requiring it, within such time as is specified in the notice, to furnish the Commissioner, in such form as may be so specified, with such information relating to the application, to compliance with Part I or to conformity with the code of practice as is so specified.(2)An information notice must contain—(a)in a case falling within subsection (1)(a), a statement that the Commissioner has received an application under section 50, or(b)in a case falling within subsection (1)(b), a statement—(i)that the Commissioner regards the specified information as relevant for either of the purposes referred to in subsection (1)(b), and(ii)of his reasons for regarding that information as relevant for that purpose.(3)An information notice must also contain particulars of the right of appeal conferred by section 57.(4)The time specified in an information notice must not expire before the end of the period within which an appeal can be brought against the notice and, if such an appeal is brought, the information need not be furnished pending the determination or withdrawal of the appeal.(5)An authority shall not be required by virtue of this section to furnish the Commissioner with any information in respect of—(a)any communication between a professional legal adviser and his client in connection with the giving of legal advice to the client with respect to his obligations, liabilities or rights under this Act, or(b)any communication between a professional legal adviser and his client, or between such an adviser or his client and any other person, made in connection with or in contemplation of proceedings under or arising out of this Act (including proceedings before the Tribunal) and for the purposes of such proceedings.(6)In subsection (5) references to the client of a professional legal adviser include references to any person representing such a client.(7)The Commissioner may cancel an information notice by written notice to the authority on which it was served.(8)In this section “information” includes unrecorded information.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">52 Enforcement notices.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)If the Commissioner is satisfied that a public authority has failed to comply with any of the requirements of Part I, the Commissioner may serve the authority with a notice (in this Act referred to as “an enforcement notice”) requiring the authority to take, within such time as may be specified in the notice, such steps as may be so specified for complying with those requirements.(2)An enforcement notice must contain—(a)a statement of the requirement or requirements of Part I with which the Commissioner is satisfied that the public authority has failed to comply and his reasons for reaching that conclusion, and(b)particulars of the right of appeal conferred by section 57.(3)An enforcement notice must not require any of the provisions of the notice to be complied with before the end of the period within which an appeal can be brought against the notice and, if such an appeal is brought, the notice need not be complied with pending the determination or withdrawal of the appeal.(4)The Commissioner may cancel an enforcement notice by written notice to the authority on which it was served.(5)This section has effect subject to section 53.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">53 Exception from duty to comply with decision notice or enforcement notice.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)This section applies to a decision notice or enforcement notice which—(a)is served on—(i)a government department, (ii)the Welsh Assembly Government, or](iii)any public authority designated for the purposes of this section by an order made by the</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State], and(b)relates to a failure, in respect of one or more requests for information—(i)to comply with section 1(1)(a) in respect of information which falls within any provision of Part II stating that the duty to confirm or deny does not arise, or(ii)to comply with section 1(1)(b) in respect of exempt information.(2)A decision notice or enforcement notice to which this section applies shall cease to have effect if, not later than the twentieth working day following the effective date, the accountable person in relation to that authority gives the Commissioner a certificate signed by him stating that he has on reasonable grounds formed the opinion that, in respect of the request or requests concerned, there was no failure falling within subsection (1)(b).(3)Where the accountable person gives a certificate to the Commissioner under subsection (2) he shall as soon as practicable thereafter lay a copy of the certificate before—(a)each House of Parliament,(b)the Northern Ireland Assembly, in any case where the certificate relates to a decision notice or enforcement notice which has been served on a Northern Ireland department or any Northern Ireland public authority, or (c)the National Assembly for Wales, in any case where the certificate relates to a decision notice or enforcement notice which has been served on—(i)the Welsh Assembly Government,(ii)the National Assembly for Wales, or(iii)any Welsh public authority.](4)In subsection (2) “the effective date”, in relation to a decision notice or enforcement notice, means—(a)the day on which the notice was given to the public authority, or(b)where an appeal under section 57 is brought, the day on which that appeal (or any further appeal arising out of it) is determined or withdrawn.(5)Before making an order under subsection (1)(a)(iii), the</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secretary of State] shall—(a)if the order relates to a Welsh public authority, consult</span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the Welsh Ministers], (aa)if the order relates to the National Assembly for Wales, consult the Presiding Officer of that Assembly,](b)if the order relates to the Northern Ireland Assembly, consult the Presiding Officer of that Assembly, and(c)if the order relates to a Northern Ireland public authority, consult the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland.(6)Where the accountable person gives a certificate to the Commissioner under subsection (2) in relation to a decision notice, the accountable person shall, on doing so or as soon as reasonably practicable after doing so, inform the person who is the complainant for the purposes of section 50 of the reasons for his opinion.(7)The accountable person is not obliged to provide information under subsection (6) if, or to the extent that, compliance with that subsection would involve the disclosure of exempt information.(8)In this section “the accountable person”—(a)in relation to a Northern Ireland department or any Northern Ireland public authority, means the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland acting jointly, (b)in relation the Welsh Assembly Government, the National Assembly for Wales or any Welsh public authority, means the First Minister for Wales, and](c)in relation to any other public authority, means—(i)a Minister of the Crown who is a member of the Cabinet, or(ii)the Attorney General, the Advocate General for Scotland or the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.(9)In this section “working day” has the same meaning as in section 10.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">54 Failure to comply with notice.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)If a public authority has failed to comply with—(a)so much of a decision notice as requires steps to be taken,(b)an information notice, or(c)an enforcement notice,the Commissioner may certify in writing to the court that the public authority has failed to comply with that notice.(2)For the purposes of this section, a public authority which, in purported compliance with an information notice—(a)makes a statement which it knows to be false in a material respect, or(b)recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material respect,is to be taken to have failed to comply with the notice.(3)Where a failure to comply is certified under subsection (1), the court may inquire into the matter and, after hearing any witness who may be produced against or on behalf of the public authority, and after hearing any statement that may be offered in defence, deal with the authority as if it had committed a contempt of court.(4)In this section “the court” means the High Court or, in Scotland, the Court of Session.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">55 Powers of entry and inspection.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Schedule 3 (powers of entry and inspection) has effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">56 No action against public authority.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)This Act does not confer any right of action in civil proceedings in respect of any failure to comply with any duty imposed by or under this Act.(2)Subsection (1) does not affect the powers of the Commissioner under section 54.<b>Part VAppeals<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">57 Appeal against notices served under Part IV.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Where a decision notice has been served, the complainant or the public authority may appeal to the Tribunal against the notice.(2)A public authority on which an information notice or an enforcement notice has been served by the Commissioner may appeal to the Tribunal against the notice.(3)In relation to a decision notice or enforcement notice which relates—(a)to information to which section 66 applies, and(b)to a matter which by virtue of subsection (3) or (4) of that section falls to be determined by the responsible authority instead of the appropriate records authority,subsections (1) and (2) shall have effect as if the reference to the public authority were a reference to the public authority or the responsible authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">58 Determination of appeals.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)If on an appeal under section 57 the Tribunal considers—(a)that the notice against which the appeal is brought is not in accordance with the law, or(b)to the extent that the notice involved an exercise of discretion by the Commissioner, that he ought to have exercised his discretion differently,the Tribunal shall allow the appeal or substitute such other notice as could have been served by the Commissioner; and in any other case the Tribunal shall dismiss the appeal.(2)On such an appeal, the Tribunal may review any finding of fact on which the notice in question was based.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">59 Appeals from decision of Tribunal</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Any party to an appeal to the Tribunal under section 57 may appeal from the decision of the Tribunal on a point of law to the appropriate court; and that court shall be—(a)the High Court of Justice in England if the address of the public authority is in England or Wales,(b)the Court of Session if that address is in Scotland, and(c)the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland if that address is in Northern Ireland.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">60 Appeals against national security certificate.</span></b><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1)Where a certificate under section 23(2) or 24(3) has been issued—(a)the Commissioner, or(b)any applicant whose request for information is affected by the issue of the certificate,may appeal to the Tribunal against the certificate.(2)If on an appeal under subsection (1) relating to a certificate under section 23(2), the Tribunal finds that the information referred to in the certificate was not exempt information by virtue of section 23(1), the Tribunal may allow the appeal and quash the certificate.(3)If on an appeal under subsection (1) relating to a certificate under section 24(3), the Tribunal finds that, applying the principles applied by the court on an application for judicial review, the Minister did not have reasonable grounds for issuing the certificate, the Tribunal may allow the appeal and quash the certificate.</span><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></span></h2></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-29253955347143208192011-07-28T00:25:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:37.092-05:00The Freedom of Information Act- 2007, USA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> <b>The Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 As Amended By Public Law No. 110-175, 121 Stat. 2524 </b><i>Below is the full text of the Freedom of Information Act in a form showing all amendments to the statute made by the “Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2007.” All newly enacted provisions are in boldface type. </i>§ 552. Public information; agency rules, opinions, orders, records, and proceedings (a) Each agency shall make available to the public information as follows: (1) Each agency shall separately state and currently publish in the Federal Register for the guidance of the public— (A) descriptions of its central and field organization and the established places at which, the employees (and in the case of a uniformed service, the members) from whom, and the methods whereby, the public may obtain information, make submittals or requests, or obtain decisions; (B) statements of the general course and method by which its functions are channeled and determined, including the nature and requirements of all formal and informal procedures available; (C) rules of procedure, descriptions of forms available or the places at which forms may be obtained, and instructions as to the scope and contents of all papers, reports, or examinations; (D) substantive rules of general applicability adopted as authorized by law, and statements of general policy or interpretations of general applicability formulated and adopted by the agency; and (E) each amendment, revision, or repeal of the foregoing. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br /><div class="deleteBody"><div class="postBody" style="color: #777777;">Except to the extent that a person has actual and timely notice of the terms thereof, a person may not in any manner be required to resort to, or be adversely affected by, a matter required to be published in the Federal Register and not so published. For the purpose of this paragraph, matter reasonably available to the class of persons affected thereby is deemed published in the Federal Register when incorporated by reference therein with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register. (2) Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection and copying—<br />(A) final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions, as well as orders, made in the adjudication of cases; (B) those statements of policy and interpretations which have been adopted by the agency and are not published in the Federal Register; (C) administrative staff manuals and instructions to staff that affect a member of the public; (D) copies of all records, regardless of form or format, which have been released to any person under paragraph (3) and which, because of the nature of their subject matter, the agency determines have become or are likely to become the subject of subsequent requests for substantially the same records; and (E) a general index of the records referred to under subparagraph (D);<br />unless the materials are promptly published and copies offered for sale. For records created on or after November 1, 1996, within one year after such date, each agency shall make such records available, including by computer telecommunications or, if computer telecommunications means have not been established by the agency, by other electronic means. To the extent required to prevent a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, an agency may delete identifying details when it makes available or publishes an opinion, statement of policy, interpretation, staff manual, instruction, or copies of records referred to in subparagraph (D). However, in each case the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing, and the extent of such deletion shall be indicated on the portion of the record which is made available or published, unless including that indication would harm an interest protected by the exemption in subsection (b) under which the deletion is made. If technically feasible, the extent of the deletion shall be indicated at the place in the record where the deletion was made. Each agency shall also maintain and make available for public inspection and copying current indexes providing identifying information for the public as to any matter issued, adopted, or promulgated after July 4, 1967, and required by this paragraph to be made available or published. Each agency shall promptly publish, quarterly or more frequently, and distribute (by sale or otherwise) copies of each index or supplements thereto unless it determines by order published in the Federal Register that the publication would be unnecessary and impracticable, in which case the agency shall nonetheless provide copies of an index on request at a cost not to exceed the direct cost of duplication. Each agency shall make the index referred to in subparagraph (E) available by computer telecommunications by December 31, 1999. A final order, opinion, statement of policy, interpretation, or staff manual or instruction that affects a member of the public may be relied on, used, or cited as precedent by an agency against a party other than an agency only if—<br />(i) it has been indexed and either made available or published as provided by this paragraph; or (ii) the party has actual and timely notice of the terms thereof.<br />(3)(A) Except with respect to the records made available under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, and except as provided in subparagraph (E), each agency, upon any request for records which (i) reasonably describes such records and (ii) is made in accordance with published rules stating the time, place, fees (if any), and procedures to be followed, shall make the records promptly available to any person. (B) In making any record available to a person under this paragraph, an agency shall provide the record in any form or format requested by the person if the record is readily reproducible by the agency in that form or format. Each agency shall make reasonable efforts to maintain its records in forms or formats that are reproducible for purposes of this section. (C) In responding under this paragraph to a request for records, an agency shall make reasonable efforts to search for the records in electronic form or format, except when such efforts would significantly interfere with the operation of the agency's automated information system. (D) For purposes of this paragraph, the term "search" means to review, manually or by automated means, agency records for the purpose of locating those records which are responsive to a request. (E) An agency, or part of an agency, that is an element of the intelligence community (as that term is defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(4))) shall not make any record available under this paragraph to— (i) any government entity, other than a State, territory, commonwealth, or district of the United States, or any subdivision thereof; or (ii) a representative of a government entity described in clause (i).<br />(4)(A)(i) In order to carry out the provisions of this section, each agency shall promulgate regulations, pursuant to notice and receipt of public comment, specifying the schedule of fees applicable to the processing of requests under this section and establishing procedures and guidelines for determining when such fees should be waived or reduced. Such schedule shall conform to the guidelines which shall be promulgated, pursuant to notice and receipt of public comment, by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and which shall provide for a uniform schedule of fees for all agencies. (ii) Such agency regulations shall provide that— (I) fees shall be limited to reasonable standard charges for document search, duplication, and review, when records are requested for commercial use; (II) fees shall be limited to reasonable standard charges for document duplication when records are not sought for commercial use and the request is made by an educational or noncommercial scientific institution, whose purpose is scholarly or scientific research; or a representative of the news media; and<br />(III) for any request not described in (I) or (II), fees shall be limited to reasonable standard charges for document search and duplication. <b>In this clause, the term ‘a representative of the news media’ means any person or entity that gathers information of potential interest to a segment of the public, uses its editorial skills to turn the raw materials into a distinct work, and distributes that work to an audience. In this clause, the term ‘news’ means information that is about current events or that would be of current interest to the public. Examples of news-media entities are television or radio stations broadcasting to the public at large and publishers of periodicals (but only if such entities qualify as disseminators of ‘news’) who make their products available for purchase by or subscription by or free distribution to the general public. These examples are not all-inclusive. Moreover, as methods of news delivery evolve (for example, the adoption of the electronic dissemination of newspapers through telecommunications services), such alternative media shall be considered to be news-media entities. A freelance journalist shall be regarded as working for a news-media entity if the journalist can demonstrate a solid basis for expecting publication through that entity, whether or not the journalist is actually employed by the entity. A publication contract would present a solid basis for such an expectation; the Government may also consider the past publication record of the requester in making such a determination. </b>(iii) Documents shall be furnished without any charge or at a charge reduced below the fees established under clause (ii) if disclosure of the information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester. (iv) Fee schedules shall provide for the recovery of only the direct costs of search, duplication, or review. Review costs shall include only the direct costs incurred during the initial examination of a document for the purposes of determining whether the documents must be disclosed under this section and for the purposes of withholding any portions exempt from disclosure under this section. Review costs may not include any costs incurred in resolving issues of law or policy that may be raised in the course of processing a request under this section. No fee may be charged by any agency under this section— (I) if the costs of routine collection and processing of the fee are likely to equal or exceed the amount of the fee; or (II) for any request described in clause (ii)(II) or (III) of this subparagraph for the first two hours of search time or for the first one hundred pages of duplication. (v) No agency may require advance payment of any fee unless the requester has previously failed to pay fees in a timely fashion, or the agency has determined that the fee will exceed $250. (vi) Nothing in this subparagraph shall supersede fees chargeable under a statute specifically providing for setting the level of fees for particular types of records.<br />(vii) In any action by a requester regarding the waiver of fees under this section, the court shall determine the matter de novo: Provided, That the court's review of the matter shall be limited to the record before the agency. <b>(viii) An agency shall not assess search fees (or in the case of a requester described under clause (ii)(II), duplication fees) under this subparagraph if the agency fails to comply with any time limit under paragraph (6), if no unusual or exceptional circumstances (as those terms are defined for purposes of paragraphs (6)(B) and (C), respectively) apply to the processing of the request. [Effective one year from date of enactment] </b>(B) On complaint, the district court of the United States in the district in which the complainant resides, or has his principal place of business, or in which the agency records are situated, or in the District of Columbia, has<br /><br />jurisdiction to enjoin the agency from withholding agency records and to order the production of any agency records improperly withheld from the complainant. In such a case the court shall determine the matter de novo, and may examine the contents of such agency records in camera to determine whether such records or any part thereof shall be withheld under any of the exemptions set forth in subsection (b) of this section, and the burden is on the agency to sustain its action. In addition to any other matters to which a court accords substantial weight, a court shall accord substantial weight to an affidavit of an agency concerning the agency's determination as to technical feasibility under paragraph (2)(C) and subsection (b) and reproducibility under paragraph (3)(B). (C) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the defendant shall serve an answer or otherwise plead to any complaint made under this subsection within thirty days after service upon the defendant of the pleading in which such complaint is made, unless the court otherwise directs for good cause is shown.<br />[(D) Repealed. Pub. L. 98-620, title IV, Sec. 402(2), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3357.] (E)<b>(i) </b>The court may assess against the United States reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this section in which the complainant has substantially prevailed. <b>(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, a complainant has substantially prevailed if the complainant has obtained relief through either— </b><b>(I) a judicial order, or an enforceable written agreement or consent decree; or </b><b>(II) a voluntary or unilateral change in position by the agency, if the complainant’s claim is not insubstantial. </b><br />(F)<b>(i) </b>Whenever the court orders the production of any agency records improperly withheld from the complainant and assesses against the United States reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs, and the court additionally issues a written finding that the circumstances surrounding the withholding raise questions whether agency personnel acted arbitrarily or capriciously with respect to the withholding, the Special Counsel shall promptly initiate a proceeding to determine whether disciplinary action is warranted against the officer or employee who was primarily responsible for the withholding. The Special Counsel, after investigation and consideration of the evidence submitted, shall submit his findings and recommendations to the administrative authority of the agency concerned and shall send copies of the findings and recommendations to the officer or employee or his representative. The administrative authority shall take the corrective action that the Special Counsel recommends. <b>(ii) The Attorney General shall— </b><b>(I) notify the Special Counsel of each civil action described under the first sentence of clause (i); and </b><b>(II) annually submit a report to Congress on the number of such civil actions in the preceding year. </b><br /><b>(iii) The Special Counsel shall annually submit a report to Congress on the actions taken by the Special Counsel under clause (i). </b>(G) In the event of noncompliance with the order of the court, the district court may punish for contempt the responsible employee, and in the case of a uniformed service, the responsible member. (5) Each agency having more than one member shall maintain and make available for public inspection a record of the final votes of each member in every agency proceeding. (6)(A) Each agency, upon any request for records made under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection, shall— (i) determine within 20 days (excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) after the receipt of any such request whether to comply with such request and shall immediately notify the person making such request of such determination and the reasons therefor, and of the right of such person to appeal to the head of the agency any adverse determination; and (ii) make a determination with respect to any appeal within twenty days (excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) after the receipt of such appeal. If on appeal the denial of the request for records is in whole or in part upheld, the agency shall notify the person making such request of the provisions for judicial review of that determination under paragraph (4) of this subsection.<br /><b>The 20-day period under clause (i) shall commence on the date on which the request is first received by the appropriate component of the agency, but in any event not later than ten days after the request is first received by any component of the </b><b>agency that is designated in the agency’s regulations under this section to receive requests under this section. The 20-day period shall not be tolled by the agency except— </b><b>(I) that the agency may make one request to the requester for information and toll the 20-day period while it is awaiting such information that it has reasonably requested from the requester under this section; or </b><b>(II) if necessary to clarify with the requester issues regarding fee assessment. In either case, the agency’s receipt of the requester’s response to the agency’s request for information or clarification ends the tolling period. </b><br /><b>[Effective one year from date of enactment] </b>(B)(i) In unusual circumstances as specified in this subparagraph, the time limits prescribed in either clause (i) or clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) may be extended by written notice to the person making such request setting forth the unusual circumstances for such extension and the date on which a determination is expected to be dispatched. No such notice shall specify a date that would result in an extension for more than ten working days, except as provided in clause (ii) of this subparagraph. (ii) With respect to a request for which a written notice under clause (i) extends the time limits prescribed under clause (i) of subparagraph (A), the agency shall notify the person making the request if the request cannot be processed within the time limit specified in that clause and shall provide the person an opportunity to limit the scope of the request so that it may be processed within that time limit or an opportunity to arrange with the agency an alternative time frame for processing the request or a modified request.<b>To aid the requester, each agency shall make available its FOIA Public Liaison, who shall assist in the resolution of any disputes between the requester and the agency. [Effective one year from date of enactment]. </b>Refusal by the person to reasonably modify the request or arrange such an alternative time frame shall be considered as a factor in determining whether exceptional circumstances exist for purposes of subparagraph (C). (iii) As used in this subparagraph, "unusual circumstances" means, but only to the extent reasonably necessary to the proper processing of the particular requests—<br />(I) the need to search for and collect the requested records from field facilities or other establishments that are separate from the office processing the request; (II) the need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine a voluminous amount of separate and distinct records which are demanded in a single request; or<br />(III) the need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with another agency having a substantial interest in the determination of the request or among two or more components of the agency having substantial subject-matter interest therein. (iv) Each agency may promulgate regulations, pursuant to notice and receipt of public comment, providing for the aggregation of certain requests by the same requestor, or by a group of requestors acting in concert, if the agency reasonably believes that such requests actually constitute a single request, which would otherwise satisfy the unusual circumstances specified in this subparagraph, and the requests involve clearly related matters. Multiple requests involving unrelated matters shall not be aggregated. (C)(i) Any person making a request to any agency for records under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection shall be deemed to have exhausted his administrative remedies with respect to such request if the agency fails to comply with the applicable time limit provisions of this paragraph. If the Government can show exceptional circumstances exist and that the agency is exercising due diligence in responding to the request, the court may retain jurisdiction and allow the agency additional time to complete its review of the records. Upon any determination by an agency to comply with a request for records, the records shall be made promptly available to such person making such request. Any notification of denial of any request for records under this subsection shall set forth the names and titles or positions of each person responsible for the denial of such request. (ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "exceptional circumstances" does not include a delay that results from a predictable agency workload of requests under this section, unless the agency demonstrates reasonable progress in reducing its backlog of pending requests. (iii) Refusal by a person to reasonably modify the scope of a request or arrange an alternative time frame for processing a request (or a modified request) under clause (ii) after being given an opportunity to do so by the agency to whom the person made the request shall be considered as a factor in determining whether exceptional circumstances exist for purposes of this subparagraph. (D)(i) Each agency may promulgate regulations, pursuant to notice and receipt of public comment, providing for multitrack processing of requests for records based on the amount of work or time (or both) involved in processing requests. (ii) Regulations under this subparagraph may provide a person making a request that does not qualify for the fastest multitrack processing an opportunity to limit the scope of the request in order to qualify for faster processing. (iii) This subparagraph shall not be considered to affect the requirement under subparagraph (C) to exercise due diligence. (E)(i) Each agency shall promulgate regulations, pursuant to notice and receipt of public comment, providing for expedited processing of requests for records— (I) in cases in which the person requesting the records demonstrates a compelling need; and (II) in other cases determined by the agency.<br />(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), regulations under this subparagraph must ensure— (I) that a determination of whether to provide expedited processing shall be made, and notice of the determination shall be provided to the person making the request, within 10 days after the date of the request; and (II) expeditious consideration of administrative appeals of such determinations of whether to provide expedited processing.<br />(iii) An agency shall process as soon as practicable any request for records to which the agency has granted expedited processing under this subparagraph. Agency action to deny or affirm denial of a request for expedited processing pursuant to this subparagraph, and failure by an agency to respond in a timely manner to such a request shall be subject to judicial review under paragraph (4), except that the judicial review shall be based on the record before the agency at the time of the determination. (iv) A district court of the United States shall not have jurisdiction to review an agency denial of expedited processing of a request for records after the agency has provided a complete response to the request. (v) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "compelling need" means— (I) that a failure to obtain requested records on an expedited basis under this paragraph could reasonably be expected to pose an imminent threat to the life or physical safety of an individual; or (II) with respect to a request made by a person primarily engaged in disseminating information, urgency to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government activity. (vi) A demonstration of a compelling need by a person making a request for expedited processing shall be made by a statement certified by such person to be true and correct to the best of such person's knowledge and belief.<br />(F) In denying a request for records, in whole or in part, an agency shall make a reasonable effort to estimate the volume of any requested matter the provision of which is denied, and shall provide any such estimate to the person making the request, unless providing such estimate would harm an interest protected by the exemption in subsection (b) pursuant to which the denial is made. <b>(7) Each agency shall— </b><b>(A) establish a system to assign an individualized tracking number for each request received that will take longer than ten days to process and provide to each person making a request the tracking number assigned to the request; and </b><b>(B) establish a telephone line or Internet service that provides information about the status of a request to the person making the request using the assigned tracking number, including— </b><b>(i) the date on which the agency originally received the request; and </b><br /><br /><b>(ii) an estimated date on which the agency will complete action on the request. </b><br /><b>[Effective one year from date of enactment] </b>(b) This section does not apply to matters that are— (1)(A) specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and (B) are in fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive order; (2) related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency; (3) specifically exempted from disclosure by statute (other than section 552b of this title), provided that such statute (A) requires that the matters be withheld from the public in such a manner as to leave no discretion on the issue, or (B) establishes particular criteria for withholding or refers to particular types of matters to be withheld; (4) trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential; (5) inter-agency or intra-agency memorandums or letters which would not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation with the agency; (6) personnel and medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; (7) records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, but only to the extent that the production of such law enforcement records or information (A) could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings, (B) would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication, (C) could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, (D) could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source, including a State, local, or foreign agency or authority or any private institution which furnished information on a confidential basis, and, in the case of a record or information compiled by a criminal law enforcement authority in the course of a criminal investigation or by an agency conducting a lawful national security intelligence investigation, information furnished by a confidential source, (E) would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions if such disclosure could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law, or (F) could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual;<br /><br />(8) contained in or related to examination, operating, or condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of an agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial institutions; or (9) geological and geophysical information and data, including maps, concerning wells.<br />Any reasonably segregable portion of a record shall be provided to any person requesting such record after deletion of the portions which are exempt under this subsection. The amount of information deleted<b>, and the exemption under which the deletion is made, </b>shall be indicated on the released portion of the record, unless including that indication would harm an interest protected by the exemption in this subsection under which the deletion is made. If technically feasible, the amount of the information deleted<b>, and the exemption under which the deletion is made, </b>shall be indicated at the place in the record where such deletion is made. (c)(1) Whenever a request is made which involves access to records described in subsection (b)(7)(A) and— (A) the investigation or proceeding involves a possible violation of criminal law; and (B) there is reason to believe that (i) the subject of the investigation or proceeding is not aware of its pendency, and (ii) disclosure of the existence of the records could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings, the agency may, during only such time as that circumstance continues, treat the records as not subject to the requirements of this section.<br />(2) Whenever informant records maintained by a criminal law enforcement agency under an informant's name or personal identifier are requested by a third party according to the informant's name or personal identifier, the agency may treat the records as not subject to the requirements of this section unless the informant's status as an informant has been officially confirmed. (3) Whenever a request is made which involves access to records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation pertaining to foreign intelligence or counterintelligence, or international terrorism, and the existence of the records is classified information as provided in subsection (b)(1), the Bureau may, as long as the existence of the records remains classified information, treat the records as not subject to the requirements of this section.<br />(d) This section does not authorize the withholding of information or limit the availability of records to the public, except as specifically stated in this section. This section is not authority to withhold information from Congress. (e)(1) On or before February 1 of each year, each agency shall submit to the Attorney General of the United States a report which shall cover the preceding fiscal year and which shall include— (A) the number of determinations made by the agency not to comply with requests for records made to such agency under subsection (a) and the reasons for each such determination; (B)(i) the number of appeals made by persons under subsection (a)(6), the result of such appeals, and the reason for the action upon each appeal that results in a denial of information; and (ii) a complete list of all statutes that the agency relies upon to authorize the agency to withhold information under subsection (b)(3), <b>the number of occasions on which each statute was relied upon, </b>a description of whether a court has upheld the decision of the agency to withhold information under each such statute, and a concise description of the scope of any information withheld; (C) the number of requests for records pending before the agency as of September 30 of the preceding year, and the median<b>and average </b>number of days that such requests had been pending before the agency as of that date; (D) the number of requests for records received by the agency and the number of requests which the agency processed; (E) the median number of days taken by the agency to process different types of requests<b>, based on the date on which the requests were received by the agency</b>; <b>(F) the average number of days for the agency to respond to a request beginning on the date on which the request was received by the agency, the median number of days for the agency to respond to such requests, and the range in number of days for the agency to respond to such requests; </b><b>(G) based on the number of business days that have elapsed since each request was originally received by the agency— </b><b>(i) the number of requests for records to which the agency has responded with a determination within a period up to and including 20 days, and in 20-day increments up to and including 200 days; </b><br /><br /><b>(ii) the number of requests for records to which the agency has responded with a determination within a period greater than 200 days and less than 301 days; </b><b>(iii) the number of requests for records to which the agency has responded with a determination within a period greater than 300 days and less than 401 days; and </b><b>(iv) the number of requests for records to which the agency has responded with a determination within a period greater than 400 days; </b><b>(H) the average number of days for the agency to provide the granted information beginning on the date on which the request was originally filed, the median number of days for the agency to provide the granted information, and the range in number of days for the agency to provide the granted information; </b><b>(I) the median and average number of days for the agency to respond to administrative appeals based on the date on which the appeals originally were received by the agency, the highest number of business days taken by the agency to respond to an administrative appeal, and the lowest number of business days taken by the agency to respond to an administrative appeal; </b><b>(J) data on the 10 active requests with the earliest filing dates pending at each agency, including the amount of time that has elapsed since each request was originally received by the agency; </b><b>(K) data on the 10 active administrative appeals with the earliest filing dates pending before the agency as of September 30 of the preceding year, including the number of business days that have elapsed since the requests were originally received by the agency; </b><b>(L) the number of expedited review requests that are granted and denied, the average and median number of days for adjudicating expedited review requests, and the number adjudicated within the required 10 days; </b><b>(M) the number of fee waiver requests that are granted and denied, and the average and median number of days for adjudicating fee waiver determinations; </b>(F) <b>(N) </b>the total amount of fees collected by the agency for processing requests; and<br /><br />(G) <b>(O) </b>the number of full-time staff of the agency devoted to processing requests for records under this section, and the total amount expended by the agency for processing such requests.<br /><b>(2) Information in each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall be expressed in terms of each principal component of the agency and for the agency overall. </b>(2) <b>(3) </b>Each agency shall make each such report available to the public including by computer telecommunications, or if computer telecommunications means have not been established by the agency, by other electronic means. <b>In addition, each agency shall make the raw statistical data used in its reports available electronically to the public upon request. </b>(3) <b>(4 ) </b>The Attorney General of the United States shall make each report which has been made available by electronic means available at a single electronic access point. The Attorney General of the United States shall notify the Chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the House of Representatives and the Chairman and ranking minority member of the Committees on Governmental Affairs and the Judiciary of the Senate, no later than April 1 of the year in which each such report is issued, that such reports are available by electronic means. (4) <b>(5) </b>The Attorney General of the United States, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall develop reporting and performance guidelines in connection with reports required by this subsection by October 1, 1997, and may establish additional requirements for such reports as the Attorney General determines may be useful. (5) <b>(6)</b>The Attorney General of the United States shall submit an annual report on or before April 1 of each calendar year which shall include for the prior calendar year a listing of the number of cases arising under this section, the exemption involved in each case, the disposition of such case, and the cost, fees, and penalties assessed under subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) of subsection (a)(4). Such report shall also include a description of the efforts undertaken by the Department of Justice to encourage agency compliance with this section.<br />(f) For purposes of this section, the term— (1) "agency" as defined in section 551(1) of this title includes any executive department, military department, Government corporation, Government controlled corporation, or other establishment in the executive branch of the Government (including the Executive Office of the President), or any independent regulatory agency; and<br /><br />(2) “record and any other term used in this section in reference to information includes any information that would be an agency record subject to the requirements of this section when maintained by an agency in any format, including an electronic format. <b>(2) ‘record’ and any other term used in this section in reference to information includes— </b><b>(A) any information that would be an agency record subject to the requirements of this section when maintained by an agency in any format, including an electronic format; and </b><b>(B) any information described under subparagraph (A) that is maintained for an agency by an entity under Government contract, for the purposes of records management. </b>(g) The head of each agency shall prepare and make publicly available upon request, reference material or a guide for requesting records or information from the agency, subject to the exemptions in subsection (b), including— (1) an index of all major information systems of the agency; (2) a description of major information and record locator systems maintained by the agency; and (3) a handbook for obtaining various types and categories of public information from the agency pursuant to chapter 35 of title 44, and under this section.<br /><b>(h)(1) There is established the Office of Government Information Services within the National Archives and Records Administration. </b><b>(2) The Office of Government Information Services shall— </b><b>(A) review policies and procedures of administrative agencies under this section; </b><b>(B) review compliance with this section by administrative agencies; and </b><b>(C) recommend policy changes to Congress and the President to improve the administration of this section. </b><b>(3) The Office of Government Information Services shall offer mediation services to resolve disputes between persons making requests under this section and administrative agencies as a non-exclusive alternative to </b><br /><b>litigation and, at the discretion of the Office, may issue advisory opinions if mediation has not resolved the dispute. </b><b>(i) The Government Accountability Office shall conduct audits of administrative agencies on the implementation of this section and issue reports detailing the results of such audits. </b><b>(j) Each agency shall designate a Chief FOIA Officer who shall be a senior official of such agency (at the Assistant Secretary or equivalent level). </b><b>(k) The Chief FOIA Officer of each agency shall, subject to the authority of the head of the agency— </b><b>(1) have agency-wide responsibility for efficient and appropriate compliance with this section; </b><b>(2) monitor implementation of this section throughout the agency and keep the head of the agency, the chief legal officer of the agency, and the Attorney General appropriately informed of the agency’s performance in implementing this section; </b><b>(3) recommend to the head of the agency such adjustments to agency practices, policies, personnel, and funding as may be necessary to improve its implementation of this section; </b><b>(4) review and report to the Attorney General, through the head of the agency, at such times and in such formats as the Attorney General may direct, on the agency’s performance in implementing this section; </b><b>(5) facilitate public understanding of the purposes of the statutory exemptions of this section by including concise descriptions of the exemptions in both the agency’s handbook issued under subsection (g), and the agency’s annual report on this section, and by providing an overview, where appropriate, of certain general categories of agency records to which those exemptions apply; and </b><b>(6) designate one or more FOIA Public Liaisons. </b><b>(l) FOIA Public Liaisons shall report to the agency Chief FOIA Officer and shall serve as supervisory officials to whom a requester under this section can raise concerns about the service the requester has received from the FOIA Requester Center, following an initial response from the FOIA Requester Center Staff. FOIA Public Liaisons shall be responsible for assisting in reducing delays, increasing transparency and understanding of the status of requests, and assisting in the resolution of disputes. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-70765176894074876682011-07-28T00:24:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:37.188-05:00Freedom of Information Act 1982, Australia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Freedom of Information Act 1982</b><b>Act No. 3 of 1982 as amended</b>This compilation was prepared on 1 July 2005taking into account amendments up to Act No. 45 of 2005The text of any of those amendments not in forceon that date is appended in the Notes sectionThe operation of amendments that have been incorporated may beaffected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes sectionPrepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br /><div class="deleteBody"><div class="postBody" style="color: #777777;"><b>An Act to give to members of the public rights of</b><b>access to official documents of the Government of</b><b>the Commonwealth and of its agencies</b><b>Part I—Preliminary</b><b>1 Short title </b>[<i>see </i>Note 1]This Act may be cited as the<i>Freedom of Information Act 1982</i>.<b>2 Commencement </b>[<i>see </i>Note 1]The several Parts of this Act shall come into operation on suchrespective dates as are fixed by Proclamation.<b>3 Object</b>(1) The object of this Act is to extend as far as possible the right of theAustralian community to access to information in the possession ofthe Government of the Commonwealth by:(a) making available to the public information about theoperations of departments and public authorities and, inparticular, ensuring that rules and practices affectingmembers of the public in their dealings with departments andpublic authorities are readily available to persons affected bythose rules and practices; and(b) creating a general right of access to information indocumentary form in the possession of Ministers,departments and public authorities, limited only byexceptions and exemptions necessary for the protection ofessential public interests and the private and business affairsof persons in respect of whom information is collected andheld by departments and public authorities; and(c) creating a right to bring about the amendment of recordscontaining personal information that is incomplete, incorrect,out of date or misleading.(2) It is the intention of the Parliament that the provisions of this Actshall be interpreted so as to further the object set out in<b>Part I </b>PreliminarySection 4<i>2 Freedom of Information Act 1982</i>subsection (1) and that any discretions conferred by this Act shallbe exercised as far as possible so as to facilitate and promote,promptly and at the lowest reasonable cost, the disclosure ofinformation.<b>4 Interpretation</b>(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:<b><i>ACT enactment </i></b>means an enactment as defined by section 3 of the<i>Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988</i>.<b><i>agency </i></b>means a Department, a prescribed authority or an eligiblecase manager.<b><i>applicant </i></b>means a person who has made a request.<b><i>Cabinet notebook </i></b>means a notebook or other like record thatcontains notes of discussions or deliberations taking place in ameeting of the Cabinet or of a committee of the Cabinet, beingnotes made in the course of those discussions or deliberations by,or under the authority of, the Secretary to the Cabinet.<b><i>Department </i></b>means a Department of the Australian Public Servicethat corresponds to a Department of State of the Commonwealthbut does not include the branch of the Australian Public Servicecomprising the transitional staff as defined by section 3 of the<i>A.C.T. Self-Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988</i>.<b><i>document </i></b>includes:(a) any of, or any part of any of, the following things:(i) any paper or other material on which there is writing;(ii) a map, plan, drawing or photograph;(iii) any paper or other material on which there are marks,figures, symbols or perforations having a meaning forpersons qualified to interpret them;(iv) any article or material from which sounds, images orwritings are capable of being reproduced with orwithout the aid of any other article or device;(v) any article on which information has been stored orrecorded, either mechanically or electronically;(vi) any other record of information; or(b) any copy, reproduction or duplicate of such a thing; orPreliminary <b>Part I</b>Section 4<i>Freedom of Information Act 1982 3</i>(c) any part of such a copy, reproduction or duplicate;but does not include:(d) library material maintained for reference purposes; or(e) Cabinet notebooks.<b><i>document of an agency </i></b>or<b><i>document of the agency </i></b>means adocument in the possession of an agency, or in the possession ofthe agency concerned, as the case requires, whether created in theagency or received in the agency.<b><i>edited copy</i></b>, in relation to a document, means a copy of thedocument from which deletions have been made under section 22.<b><i>eligible case manager </i></b>means an entity (within the meaning of the<i>Employment Services Act 1994</i>):(a) that is, or has at any time been, a contracted case managerwithin the meaning of that Act; and(b) that is not:(i) a Department; or(ii) a prescribed authority.<b><i>enactment </i></b>means, subject to section 4A:(a) an Act;(b) an Ordinance of the Australian Capital Territory; or(c) an instrument (including rules, regulations or by-laws) madeunder an Act or under such an Ordinance and includes anenactment as amended by another enactment.<b><i>exempt document </i></b>means:(a) a document which, by virtue of a provision of Part IV, is anexempt document;(b) a document in respect of which, by virtue of section 7, anagency is exempt from the operation of this Act; or(c) an official document of a Minister that contains some matterthat does not relate to the affairs of an agency or of aDepartment of State.<b><i>exempt Internet-content document </i></b>means:(a) a document containing information (within the meaning ofSchedule 5 to the <i>Broadcasting Services Act 1992</i>) that:(i) has been copied from the Internet; and<b>Part I </b>PreliminarySection 4<i>4 Freedom of Information Act 1982</i>(ii) was offensive Internet content when it was accessible onthe Internet; or(b) a document that sets out how to access, or that is likely tofacilitate access to, offensive Internet content (for example:by setting out the name of an Internet site, an IP address, aURL, a password, or the name of a newsgroup).<b><i>exempt matter </i></b>means matter the inclusion of which in a documentcauses the document to be an exempt document.<b><i>offensive Internet content </i></b>means Internet content (within themeaning of Schedule 5 to the <i>Broadcasting Services Act 1992</i>) thatis:(a) prohibited content (within the meaning of that Schedule); or(b) potential prohibited content (within the meaning of thatSchedule).<b><i>officer</i></b>, in relation to an agency, includes a member of the agencyor a member of the staff of the agency.<b><i>official document of a Minister </i></b>or <b><i>official document of the</i></b><b><i>Minister </i></b>means a document that is in the possession of a Minister,or that is in the possession of the Minister concerned, as the caserequires, in his or her capacity as a Minister, being a document thatrelates to the affairs of an agency or of a Department of State and,for the purposes of this definition, a Minister shall be deemed to bein possession of a document that has passed from his or herpossession if he or she is entitled to access to the document and thedocument is not a document of an agency.<b><i>Ombudsman </i></b>means the Commonwealth Ombudsman.<b><i>Ordinance</i></b>, in relation to the Australian Capital Territory, includesa law of a State that applies, or the provisions of a law of a Statethat apply, in the Territory by virtue of an enactment (other than alaw that is, or provisions that are an ACT enactment).<b><i>personal information </i></b>means information or an opinion (includinginformation forming part of a database), whether true or not, andwhether recorded in a material form or not, about an individualwhose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, fromthe information or opinion.<b><i>prescribed authority </i></b>means:Preliminary <b>Part I</b>Section 4<i>Freedom of Information Act 1982 5</i>(a) a body corporate, or an unincorporated body, established fora public purpose by, or in accordance with the provisions of,an enactment or an Order-in-Council, other than:(i) an incorporated company or association;(ii) a body that, under subsection (2), is not to be taken to bea prescribed authority for the purposes of this Act;(iii) the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly;(iv) the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory orthe Executive Council of the Northern Territory;(v) the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of NorfolkIsland; or(vi) a Royal Commission;</div><div><br /></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-71239233104569957472011-04-26T07:03:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:37.282-05:00The Right to Information Act, 2005 – India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE<br />(Legislative Department)<br />New Delhi, the 21st June, 2005/Jyaistha 31, 1927 (Saka)<br />The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the 15th June, 2005, and is hereby published for general information:—<br />THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005 No. 22 of 2005<br />[15th June, 2005.]<br />An Act to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities, in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority, the constitution of a Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.<br />WHEREAS the Constitution of India has established democratic Republic;<br />AND WHEREAS democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of information which are vital to its functioning and also to contain corruption and to hold Governments and their instrumentalities accountable to the governed;<br />AND WHEREAS revelation of information in actual practice is likely to conflict with other public interests including efficient operations of the Governments, optimum use of limited fiscal resources and the preservation of confidentiality of sensitive information;<br />2 THE GAZETTER OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—<br />AND WHEREAS it is necessary to harmonise these conflicting interests while preserving the paramountcy of the democratic ideal;<br />NOW, THEREFORE, it is expedient to provide for furnishing certain information to citizens who desire to have it.<br />BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—<br />CHAPTER I<br />Preliminary<br />Short title, extent and commencement<br />1. (1) This Act may be called the Right to Information Act, 2005.<br />(2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.<br />(3) The provisions of sub-section (1) of section 4, sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 5, sections 12, 13, 15,16, 24, 27 and 28 shall come into force at once, and the remaining provisions of this Act shall come into force on the one hundred and twentieth day of its enactment.<br />Definitions.<br />2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—<br />(a) "appropriate Government" means in relation to a public authority which is established, constituted, owned, controlled or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly—<br />(i) by the Central Government or the Union territory administration, the Central Government;<br />(ii) by the State Government, the State Government;<br />(b) "Central Information Commission" means the Central Information Commission constituted under sub-section (1) of section 12;<br />(c) "Central Public Information Officer" means the Central Public Information Officer designated under sub-section (1) and includes a Central Assistant Public Information Officer designated as such under sub-section (2) of section 5;<br />(d) "Chief Information Commissioner" and "Information Commissioner" mean the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioner appointed under sub-section (3) of section 12;<br />(e) "competent authority" means—<br />(i) the Speaker in the case of the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of a State or a Union territory having such Assembly and the Chairman in the case of the Council of States or Legislative Council of a State;<br />(ii) the Chief Justice of India in the case of the Supreme Court;<br />(iii) the Chief Justice of the High Court in the case of a High Court;<br />(iv) the President or the Governor, as the case may be, in the case of other authorities established or constituted by or under the Constitution;<br />(v) the administrator appointed under article 239 of the Constitution;<br />(f) "information" means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form<br />SEC.1 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 3<br />and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force;<br />(g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act by the appropriate Government or the competent authority, as the case may be;<br />(h) "public authority" means any authority or body or institution of self- government established or constituted—<br />(a) by or under the Constitution;<br />(b) by any other law made by Parliament;<br />(c) by any other law made by State Legislature;<br />(d) by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government,<br />and includes any—<br />(i) body owned, controlled or substantially financed;<br />(ii) non-Government organisation substantially financed,<br />directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government;<br />(i) "record" includes—<br />(a) any document, manuscript and file;<br />(b) any microfilm, microfiche and facsimile copy of a document;<br />(c) any reproduction of image or images embodied in such microfilm (whether enlarged or not); and<br />(d) any other material produced by a computer or any other device;<br />(j) "right to information" means the right to information accessible under this Act which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to—<br />(i) inspection of work, documents, records;<br />(ii) taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records;<br />(iii) taking certified samples of material;<br />(iv) obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device;<br />(k) "State Information Commission" means the State Information Commission constituted under sub-section (1) of section 15;<br />(l) "State Chief Information Commissioner" and "State Information Commissioner" mean the State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioner appointed under sub-section (3) of section 15;<br />(m) "State Public Information Officer" means the State Public Information Officer designated under sub-section (1) and includes a State Assistant Public Information Officer designated as such under sub-section (2) of section 5;<br />(n) "third party" means a person other than the citizen making a request for information and includes a public authority.<br />4 THE GAZETTER OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—<br />CHAPTER II<br />Right to information and obligations of public authorities<br />3. Subject to the provisions of this Act, all citizens shall have the right to information.<br />Right to information<br />4. (1) Every public authority shall—<br />a) maintain all its records duly catalogued and indexed in a manner and the form which facilitates the right to information under this Act and ensure that all records that are appropriate to be computerised are, within a reasonable time and subject to availability of resources, computerised and connected through a network all over the country on different systems so that access to such records is facilitated;<br />b) publish within one hundred and twenty days from the enactment of this Act,—<br />(i) the par ticulars of its organisation, functions and duties;<br />(ii) the powers and duties of its officers and employees;<br />(iii) the procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability;<br />(iv) the norms set by it for the discharge of its functions;<br />(v) the rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions;<br />(vi) a statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control;<br />(vii) the particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof;<br />(viii) a statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public;<br />(ix) a directory of its officers and employees;<br />(x) the monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations;<br />(xi) the budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made;<br />(xii) the manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes;<br />(xiii) particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorisations granted by it;<br />(xiv) details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form;<br />(xv) the particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use;<br />(xvi) the names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers;<br />(xvii) such other information as may be prescribed; and thereafter update these publications every year;<br />c) publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing the decisions which affect public;<br />d) provide reasons for its administrative or quasi-judicial<br />SEC.1 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 5<br />decisions to affected persons.<br />(2) It shall be a constant endeavour of every public authority to take steps in accordance with the requirements of clause (b) of sub-section (1) to provide as much information suo motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communications, including internet, so that the public have minimum resort to the use of this Act to obtain information.<br />(3) For the purposes of sub-section (1), every information shall be disseminated widely and in such form and manner which is easily accessible to the public.<br />(4) All materials shall be disseminated taking into consideration the cost effectiveness, local language and the most effective method of communication in that local area and the information should be easily accessible, to the extent possible in electronic format with the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, available free or at such cost of the medium or the print cost price as may be prescribed.<br />Explanation.—For the purposes of sub-sections (3) and (4), "disseminated" means making known or communicated the information to the public through notice boards, newspapers, public announcements, media broadcasts, the internet or any other means, including inspection of offices of any public authority.<br />5. (1) Every public authority shall, within one hundred days of the enactment of this Act, designate as many officers as the Central Public Information Officers or State Public Information Officers, as the case may be, in all administrative units or offices under it as may be necessary to provide information to persons requesting for the information under this Act.<br />(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), every public authority shall designate an officer, within one hundred days of the enactment of this Act, at each sub-divisional level or other sub-district level as a Central Assistant Public Information Officer or a State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be, to receive the applications for information or appeals under this Act for forwarding the same forthwith to the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or senior officer specified under sub-section (1) of section 19 or the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be:<br />Provided that where an application for information or appeal is given to a Central Assistant Public Information Officer or a State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be, a period of five days shall be added in computing the period for response specified under sub-section (1) of section 7.<br />(3) Every Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall deal with requests from persons seeking information and render reasonable assistance to the persons seeking such information.<br />(4) The Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, may seek the assistance of any other officer as he or she considers it necessary for the proper discharge of his or her duties.<br />(5) Any officer, whose assistance has been sought under sub-section (4), shall render all assistance to the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, seeking his or her assistance and for the purposes of any contravention of the provisions of this Act, such other officer shall be treated as a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be.<br />Designation of Public Information Officers.<br />6 THE GAZETTER OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—<br />6. (1) A person, who desires to obtain any information under this Act, shall make a request in writing or through electronic means in English or Hindi or in the official language of the area in which the application is being made, accompanying such fee as may be prescribed, to—<br />(a) the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, of the concerned public authority;<br />(b) the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be,<br />specifying the particulars of the information sought by him or her:<br />Provided that where such request cannot be made in writing, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall render all reasonable assistance to the person making the request orally to reduce the same in writing.<br />(2) An applicant making request for information shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any other personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting him.<br />(3) Where an application is made to a public authority requesting for an information,—<br />(i) which is held by another public authority; or<br />(ii) the subject matter of which is more closely connected with the functions of another public authority,<br />the public authority, to which such application is made, shall transfer the application or such part of it as may be appropriate to that other public authority and inform the applicant immediately about such transfer:<br />Provided that the transfer of an application pursuant to this sub-section shall be made as soon as practicable but in no case later than five days from the date of receipt of the application.<br />Request for obtaining information.<br />Disposal of request.<br />7. (1) Subject to the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 5 or the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 6, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, on receipt of a request undersection 6 shall, as expeditiously as possible, and in any case within thirty days of the receipt of the request, either provide the information on payment of such fee as may be prescribed or reject the request for any of the reasons specified in sections 8 and 9:<br />Provided that where the information sought for concerns the life or liberty of a person, the same shall be provided within forty-eight hours of the receipt of the request.<br />(2) If the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, fails to give decision on the request for information within the period specified under sub-section (1), the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have refused the request.<br />(3) Where a decision is taken to provide the information on payment of any further fee representing the cost of providing the information, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall send an intimation to the person making the request, giving—<br />(a) the details of further fees representing the cost of providing the information as determined by him, together with the calculations made<br />SEC.1 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 7<br />to arrive at the amount in accordance with fee prescribed under sub-section (1), requesting him to deposit that fees, and the period intervening between the despatch of the said intimation and payment of fees shall be excluded for the purpose of calculating the period of thirty days referred to in that sub-section;<br />(b) information concerning his or her right with respect to review the decision as to the amount of fees charged or the form of access provided, including the particulars of the appellate authority, time limit, process and any other forms.<br />(4) Where access to the record or a part thereof is required to be provided under this Act and the person to whom access is to be provided is sensorily disabled, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall provide assistance to enable access to the information, including providing such assistance as may be appropriate for the inspection.<br />(5) Where access to information is to be provided in the printed or in any electronic format, the applicant shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (6), pay such fee as may be prescribed:<br />Provided that the fee prescribed under sub-section (1) of section 6 and sub-sections (1) and (5) of section 7 shall be reasonable and no such fee shall be charged from the persons who are of below poverty line as may be determined by the appropriate Government.<br />(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (5), the person making request for the information shall be provided the information free of charge where a public authority fails to comply with the time limits specified in sub-section (1).<br />(7) Before taking any decision under sub-section (1), the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall take into consideration the representation made by a third party under section 11.<br />(8) Where a request has been rejected under sub-section (1), the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall communicate to the person making the request,—<br />(i) the reasons for such rejection;<br />(ii) the period within which an appeal against such rejection may be preferred; and<br />(iii) the particulars of the appellate authority.<br />(9) An information shall ordinarily be provided in the form in which it is sought unless it would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority or would be detrimental to the safety or preservation of the record in question.<br />8. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen,—<br />(a) information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence;<br />(b) information which has been expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court;<br />Exemption from disclosure of information.<br />8 THE GAZETTER OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—<br />(c) information, the disclosure of which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State Legislature;<br />(d) information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information;<br />(e) information available to a person in his fiduciary relationship, unless the competent authority is satisfied that the larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information;<br />(f) information received in confidence from foreign Government;<br />(g) information, the disclosure of which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes;<br />(h) information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders;<br />(i) cabinet papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries and other officers:<br />Provided that the decisions of Council of Ministers, the reasons thereof, and the material on the basis of which the decisions were taken shall be made public after the decision has been taken, and the matter is complete, or over:<br />Provided further that those matters which come under the exemptions specified in this section shall not be disclosed;<br />(j) information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information:<br />Provided that the information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person.<br />19 of 1923.<br />(2) Notwithstanding anything in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 nor any of the exemptions permissible in accordance with sub-section (1), a public authority may allow access to information, if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests.<br />(3) Subject to the provisions of clauses (a), (c) and (i) of sub-section (1), any information relating to any occurrence, event or matter which has taken place, occurred or happened twenty years before the date on which any request is made under secton 6 shall be provided to any person making a request under that section:<br />Provided that where any question arises as to the date from which the said period of twenty years has to be computed, the decision of the Central Government shall be final, subject to the usual appeals provided for in this Act.<br />SEC.1 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 9<br />Grounds for rejection to access in certain cases.<br />9. Without prejudice to the provisions of section 8, a Central Public Information Officer or a State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, may reject a request for information where such a request for providing access would involve an infringement of copyright subsisting in a person other than the State.<br />Severability<br />10. (1) Where a request for access to information is rejected on the ground that it is in relation to information which is exempt from disclosure, then, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, access may be provided to that part of the record which does not contain any information which is exempt from disclosure under this Act and which can reasonably be severed from any part that contains exempt information.<br />(2) Where access is granted to a part of the record under sub-section (1), the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall give a notice to the applicant, informing—<br />(a) that only part of the record requested, after severance of the record containing information which is exempt from disclosure, is being provided;<br />(b) the reasons for the decision, including any findings on any material question of fact, referring to the material on which those findings were based;<br />(c) the name and designation of the person giving the decision;<br />(d) the details of the fees calculated by him or her and the amount of fee which the applicant is required to deposit; and<br />(e) his or her rights with respect to review of the decision regarding non-disclosure of part of the information, the amount of fee charged or the form of access provided, including the particulars of the senior officer specified under sub-section (1) of section 19 or the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be, time limit, process and any other form of access.<br />Third party information.<br />11. (1) Where a Central Public Information Officer or a State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, intends to disclose any information or record, or part thereof on a request made under this Act, which relates to or has been supplied by a third party and has been treated as confidential by that third party, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall, within five days from the receipt of the request, give a written notice to such third party of the request and of the fact that the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, intends to disclose the information or record, or part thereof, and invite the third party to make a submission in writing or orally, regarding whether the information should be disclosed, and such submission of the third party shall be kept in view while taking a decision about disclosure of information:<br />Provided that except in the case of trade or commercial secrets protected by law, disclosure may be allowed if the public interest in disclosure outweighs in importance any possible harm or injury to the interests of such third party.<br />(2) Where a notice is served by the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, under sub-section (1) to a third party in respect of any information or record or part thereof, the third party shall, within ten days from the date of receipt of such notice, be given the opportunity to make representation against the proposed disclosure.<br />(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 7, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall, within forty days after receipt of the request under section 6, if the third party has been given an opportunity to make representation under sub-section (2), make a decision as to whether or not to disclose the information or record or part thereof and give in<br />10 THE GAZETTER OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—<br />writing the notice of his decision to the third party.<br />(4) A notice given under sub-section (3) shall include a statement that the third party to whom the notice is given is entitled to prefer an appeal under section 19 against the decision.<br />CHAPTER III<br />The Central Information Commission<br />12. (1) The Central Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a body to be known as the Central Information Commission to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to, it under this Act.<br />(2) The Central Information Commission shall consist of—<br />(a) the Chief Information Commissioner; and<br />(b) such number of Central Information Commissioners, not exceeding ten, as may be deemed necessary.<br />(3) The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of—<br />(i) the Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee;<br />(ii) the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha; and<br />(iii) a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.<br />Explanation.—For the purposes of removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where the Leader of Opposition in the House of the People has not been recognised as such, the Leader of the single largest group in opposition of the Government in the House of the People shall be deemed to be the Leader of Opposition.<br />(4) The general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the Central Information Commission shall vest in the Chief Information Commissioner who shall be assisted by the Information Commissioners and may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things which may be exercised or done by the Central Information Commission autonomously without being subjected to directions by any other authority under this Act.<br />(5) The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance.<br />(6) The Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner shall not be a Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any State or Union territory, as the case may be, or hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession.<br />(7) The headquarters of the Central Information Commission shall be at Delhi and the Central Information Commission may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, establish offices at other places in India.<br />Constitution of Central Information Commission.<br />SEC.1 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 11<br />13. (1) The Chief Information Commissioner shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office and shall not be eligible for reappointment:<br />Provided that no Chief Information Commissioner shall hold office as such after he has attained the age of sixty-five years.<br />(2) Every Information Commissioner shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office or till he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier, and shall not be eligible for reappointment as such Information Commissioner:<br />Provided that every Information Commissioner shall, on vacating his office under this sub-section be eligible for appointment as the Chief Information Commissioner in the manner specified in sub-section (3) of section 12:<br />Provided further that where the Information Commissioner is appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner, his term of office shall not be more than five years in aggregate as the Information Commissioner and the Chief Information Commissioner.<br />(3) The Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner shall before he enters upon his office make and subscribe before the President or some other person appointed by him in that behalf, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the First Schedule.<br />(4) The Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner may, at any time, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign from his office:<br />Provided that the Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner may be removed in the manner specified under section 14.<br />(5) The salaries and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service of—<br />(a) the Chief Information Commissioner shall be the same as that of the Chief Election Commissioner;<br />(b) an Information Commissioner shall be the same as that of an Election Commissioner:<br />Provided that if the Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner, at the time of his appointment is, in receipt of a pension, other than a disability or wound pension, in respect of any previous service under the Government of India or under the Government of a State, his salary in respect of the service as the Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner shall be reduced by the amount of that pension including any portion of pension which was commuted and pension equivalent of other forms of retirement benefits excluding pension equivalent of retirement gratuity:<br />Provided further that if the Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner if, at the time of his appointment is, in receipt of retirement benefits in respect of any previous service rendered in a Corporation established by or under any Central Act or State Act or a Government company owned or controlled by the Central Government or the State Government, his salary in respect of the service as the Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner shall be reduced by the amount of pension equivalent to the retirement benefits:<br />Provided also that the salaries, allowances and other conditions of service of the Chief Information Commissioner and the Information Commissioners shall not be varied to their<br />Term of office and conditions of service.<br />12 THE GAZETTER OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—<br />disadvantage after their appointment.<br />(6) The Central Government shall provide the Chief Information Commissioner and the Information Commissioners with such officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient performance of their functions under this Act, and the salaries and allowances payable to and the terms and conditions of service of the officers and other employees appointed for the purpose of this Act shall be such as may be prescribed.<br />14. (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), the Chief Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner shall be removed from his office only by order of the President on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity after the Supreme Court, on a reference made to it by the President, has, on inquiry, reported that the Chief Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner, as the case may be, ought on such ground be removed.<br />(2) The President may suspend from office, and if deem necessary prohibit also from attending the office during inquiry, the Chief Information Commissioner or Information Commissioner in respect of whom a reference has been made to the Supreme Court under sub-section (1) until the President has passed orders on receipt of the report of the Supreme Court on such reference.<br />(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the President may by order remove from office the Chief Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner if the Chief Information Commissioner or a Information Commissioner, as the case may be,—<br />(a) is adjudged an insolvent; or<br />(b) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the President, involves moral turpitude; or<br />(c) engages during his term of office in any paid employment outside the duties of his office; or<br />(d) is, in the opinion of the President, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body; or<br />(e) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as the Chief Information Commissioner or a Information Commissioner.<br />(4) If the Chief Information Commissioner or a Information Commissioner in any way, concerned or interested in any contract or agreement made by or on behalf of the Government of India or participates in any way in the profit thereof or in any benefit or emolument arising therefrom otherwise than as a member and in common with the other members of an incorporated company, he shall, for the purposes of sub-section (1), be deemed to be guilty of misbehaviour.<br />Removalof Chief Information Commissioner or Information Commissioner.<br />CHAPTER IV<br />The State Information Commission<br />15. (1) Every State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a body to be known as the ......... (name of the State) Information Commission to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to, it under this Act.<br />(2) The State Information Commission shall consist of—<br />(a) the State Chief Information Commissioner, and<br />(b) such number of State Information Commissioners, not exceeding ten, as may be deemed necessary.<br />Constitution of State Information Commission.<br />SEC.1 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 13<br />(3) The State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioners shall be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of a committee consisting of—<br />(i) the Chief Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee;<br />(ii) the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly; and<br />(iii) a Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Chief Minister<br />Explanation.—For the purposes of removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly has not been recognised as such, the Leader of the single largest group in opposition of the Government in the Legislative Assembly shall be deemed to be the Leader of Opposition.<br />(4) The general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the State Information Commission shall vest in the State Chief Information Commissioner who shall be assisted by the State Information Commissioners and may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things which may be exercised or done by the State Information Commission autonomously without being subjected to directions by any other authority under this Act.<br />(5) The State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioners shall be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance.<br />(6) The State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner shall not be a Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any State or Union territory, as the case may be, or hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession.<br />(7) The headquarters of the State Information Commission shall be at such place in the State as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify and the State Information Commission may, with the previous approval of the State Government, establish offices at other places in the State.<br />Term of office and conditions of service.<br />16. (1) The State Chief Information Commissioner shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office and shall not be eligible for reappointment:<br />Provided that no State Chief Information Commissioner shall hold office as such after he has attained the age of sixty-five years.<br />(2) Every State Information Commissioner shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office or till he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier, and shall not be eligible for reappointment as such State Information Commissioner:<br />Provided that every State Information Commissioner shall, on vacating his office under this sub-section, be eligible for appointment as the State Chief Information Commissioner in the manner specified in sub-section (3) of section 15:<br />Provided further that where the State Information Commissioner is appointed as the State Chief Information Commissioner, his term of office shall not be more than five years in aggregate as the State Information Commissioner and the State Chief Information Commissioner.<br />(3) The State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner,<br />14 THE GAZETTER OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—<br />shall before he enters upon his office make and subscribe before the Governor or some other person appointed by him in that behalf, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the First Schedule.<br />(4) The State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner may, at any time, by writing under his hand addressed to the Governor, resign from his office:<br />Provided that the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner may be removed in the manner specified under section 17.<br />(5) The salaries and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service of—<br />(a) the State Chief Information Commissioner shall be the same as that of an Election Commissioner;<br />(b) the State Information Commissioner shall be the same as that of the Chief Secretary to the State Government:<br />Provided that if the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner, at the time of his appointment is, in receipt of a pension, other than a disability or wound pension, in respect of any previous service under the Government of India or under the Government of a State, his salary in respect of the service as the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner shall be reduced by the amount of that pension including any portion of pension which was commuted and pension equivalent of other forms of retirement benefits excluding pension equivalent of retirement gratuity:<br />Provided further that where the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner if, at the time of his appointment is, in receipt of retirement benefits in respect of any previous service rendered in a Corporation established by or under any Central Act or State Act or a Government company owned or controlled by the Central Government or the State Government, his salary in respect of the service as the State Chief Information Commissioner or the State Information Commissioner shall be reduced by the amount of pension equivalent to the retirement benefits:<br />Provided also that the salaries, allowances and other conditions of service of the State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioners shall not be varied to their disadvantage after their appointment.<br />(6) The State Government shall provide the State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioners with such officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient performance of their functions under this Act, and the salaries and allowances payable to and the terms and conditions of service of the officers and other employees appointed for the purpose of this Act shall be such as may be prescribed.<br />17. (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner shall be removed from his office only by order of the Governor on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity after the Supreme Court, on a reference made to it by the Governor, has on inquiry, reported that the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner, as the case may be, ought on such ground be removed.<br />(2) The Governor may suspend from office, and if deem necessary prohibit also from attending the office during inquiry, the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner in respect of whom a reference has been made to the Supreme Court under sub-section (1) until the Governor has passed orders on receipt of the report of<br />Removal of State Chief Information Commissioner or State Information Commissioner<br />SEC.1 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 15<br />the Supreme Court on such reference.<br />(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Governor may by order remove from office the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner if a State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner, as the case may be,—<br />(a) is adjudged an insolvent; or<br />(b) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Governor, involves moral turpitude; or<br />(c) engages during his term of office in any paid employment outside the duties of his office; or<br />(d) is, in the opinion of the Governor, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body; or<br />(e) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner.<br />(4) If the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner in any way, concerned or interested in any contract or agreement made by or on behalf of the Government of the State or participates in any way in the profit thereof or in any benefit or emoluments arising therefrom otherwise than as a member and in common with the other members of an incorporated company, he shall, for the purposes of sub-section (1), be deemed to be guilty of misbehaviour.<br />Powers and functions of Information Commissions.<br />CHAPTER V<br />Powers and functions of the Information Commissions, appeal and penalties<br />18. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, it shall be the duty of the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, to receive and inquire into a complaint from any person,—<br />(a) who has been unable to submit a request to a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, either by reason that no such officer has been appointed under this Act, or because the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be, has refused to accept his or her application for information or appeal under this Act for forwarding the same to the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer or senior officer specified in sub-section (1) of section 19 or the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be;<br />(b) who has been refused access to any information requested under this Act;<br />(c) who has not been given a response to a request for information or access to information within the time limit specified under this Act;<br />(d) who has been required to pay an amount of fee which he or she considers unreasonable;<br />(e) who believes that he or she has been given incomplete, misleading or false information under this Act; and<br />(f) in respect of any other matter relating to requesting or obtaining access to records under this Act.<br />(2) Where the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to inquire into the matter, it may initiate an inquiry in respect thereof.<br />16 THE GAZETTER OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—<br />(3) The Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, shall, while inquiring into any matter under this section, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, in respect of the following matters, namely:—<br />5 of 1908<br />(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of persons and compel them to give oral or written evidence on oath and to produce the documents or things;<br />(b) requiring the discovery and inspection of documents;<br />(c) receiving evidence on affidavit;<br />(d) requisitioning any public record or copies thereof from any court or office;<br />(e) issuing summons for examination of witnesses or documents; and<br />(f) any other matter which may be prescribed.<br />(4) Notwithstanding anything inconsistent contained in any other Act of Parliament or State Legislature, as the case may be, the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be, may, during the inquiry of any complaint under this Act, examine any record to which this Act applies which is under the control of the public authority, and no such record may be withheld from it on any grounds.<br />Appeal<br />19. (1) Any person who, does not receive a decision within the time specified in sub-section (1) or clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 7, or is aggrieved by a decision of the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, may within thirty days from the expiry of such period or from the receipt of such a decision prefer an appeal to such officer who is senior in rank to the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer as the case may be, in each public authority:<br />Provided that such officer may admit the appeal after the expiry of the period of thirty days if he or she is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.<br />(2) Where an appeal is preferred against an order made by a Central Public Information Officer or a State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, under section 11 to disclose third party information, the appeal by the concerned third party shall be made within thirty days from the date of the order.<br />(3) A second appeal against the decision under sub-section (1) shall lie within ninety days from the date on which the decision should have been made or was actually received, with the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission:<br />Provided that the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be, may admit the appeal after the expiry of the period of ninety days if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.<br />(4) If the decision of the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, against which an appeal is preferred relates to information of a third party, the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, shall give a reasonable opportunity of being heard to that third party.<br />(5) In any appeal proceedings, the onus to prove that a denial of a request was justified shall be on the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, who denied the request.<br />(6) An appeal under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be disposed of within thirty days of the receipt of the appeal or within such extended period not exceeding a total of forty-five days from the date of filing thereof, as the case may be, for reasons to be<br />SEC.1 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 17<br />recorded in writing.<br />(7) The decision of the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, shall be binding.<br />(8) In its decision, the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, has the power to—<br />(a) require the public authority to take any such steps as may be necessary to secure compliance with the provisions of this Act, including—<br />(i) by providing access to information, if so requested, in a particular form;<br />(ii) by appointing a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be;<br />(iii) by publishing certain information or categories of information;<br />(iv) by making necessary changes to its practices in relation to the maintenance, management and destruction of records;<br />(v) by enhancing the provision of training on the right to information for its officials;<br />(vi) by providing it with an annual report in compliance with clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 4;<br />(b) require the public authority to compensate the complainant for any loss or other detriment suffered;<br />(c) impose any of the penalties provided under this Act;<br />(d) reject the application.<br />(9) The Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, shall give notice of its decision, including any right of appeal, to the complainant and the public authority.<br />(10) The Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, shall decide the appeal in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.<br />Penalties<br />20. (1) Where the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be, at the time of deciding any complaint or appeal is of the opinion that the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, has, without any reasonable cause, refused to receive an application for information or has not furnished information within the time specified under sub-section (1) of section 7 or malafidely denied the request for information or knowingly given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroyed information which was the subject of the request or obstructed in any manner in furnishing the information, it shall impose a penalty of two hundred and fifty rupees each day till application is received or information is furnished, so however, the total amount of such penalty shall not exceed twenty-five thousand rupees:<br />Provided that the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard before any penalty is imposed on him:<br />Provided further that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the case may be.<br />(2) Where the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be, at the time of deciding any complaint or appeal is of the opinion that the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the case<br />18 THE GAZETTER OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—<br />may be, has, without any reasonable cause and persistently, failed to receive an application for information or has not furnished information within the time specified under sub-section (1) of section 7 or malafidely denied the request for information or knowingly given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroyed information which was the subject of the request or obstructed in any manner in furnishing the information, it shall recommend for disciplinary action against the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, under the service rules applicable to him.<br />CHAPTER VI<br />Miscellaneous<br />Protection of action taken in good faith.<br />21. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act or any rule made thereunder.<br />Act to have overriding effect<br />22. The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act.<br />Bar of jurisdiction of courts<br />23. No court shall entertain any suit, application or other proceeding in respect of any order made under this Act and no such order shall be called in question otherwise than by way of an appeal under this Act.<br />Act not to apply to certain organisations<br />24. (1) Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established by the Central Government or any information furnished by such organisations to that Government:<br />Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section:<br />Provided further that in the case of information sought for is in respect of allegations of violation of human rights, the information shall only be provided after the approval of the Central Information Commission, and notwithstanding anything contained in section 7, such information shall be provided within forty-five days from the date of the receipt of request.<br />(2) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the Schedule by including therein any other intelligence or security organisation established by that Government or omitting therefrom any organisation already specified therein and on the publication of such notification, such organisation shall be deemed to be included in or, as the case may be, omitted from the Schedule.<br />(3) Every notification issued under sub-section (2) shall be laid before each House of Parliament.<br />(4) Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to such intelligence and security organisation being organisations established by the State Government, as that Government may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify:<br />Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section:<br />SEC.1 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 19<br />Provided further that in the case of information sought for is in respect of allegations of violation of human rights, the information shall only be provided after the approval of the State Information Commission and, notwithstanding anything contained in section 7, such information shall be provided within forty-five days from the date of the receipt of request.<br />(5) Every notification issued under sub-section (4) shall be laid before the State Legislature.<br />25. (1) The Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, shall, as soon as practicable after the end of each year, prepare a report on the implementation of the provisions of this Act during that year and forward a copy thereof to the appropriate Government.<br />(2) Each Ministry or Department shall, in relation to the public authorities within their jurisdiction, collect and provide such information to the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, as is required to prepare the report under this section and comply with the requirements concerning the furnishing of that information and keeping of records for the purposes of this section.<br />(3) Each report shall state in respect of the year to which the report relates,—<br />(a) the number of requests made to each public authority;<br />(b) the number of decisions where applicants were not entitled to access to the documents pursuant to the requests, the provisions of this Act under which these decisions were made and the number of times such provisions were invoked;<br />(c) the number of appeals referred to the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, for review, the nature of the appeals and the outcome of the appeals;<br />(d) particulars of any disciplinary action taken against any officer in respect of the administration of this Act;<br />(e) the amount of charges collected by each public authority under this Act;<br />(f) any facts which indicate an effort by the public authorities to administer and implement the spirit and intention of this Act;<br />(g) recommendations for reform, including recommendations in respect of the particular public authorities, for the development, improvement, modernisation, reform or amendment to this Act or other legislation or common law or any other matter relevant for operationalising the right to access information.<br />(4) The Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, may, as soon as practicable after the end of each year, cause a copy of the report of the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be, referred to in sub-section (1) to be laid before each House of Parliament or, as the case may be, before each House of the State Legislature, where there are two Houses, and where there is one House of the State Legislature before that House.<br />(5) If it appears to the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, that the practice of a public authority in relation to the exercise of its functions under this Act does not conform with the provisions or spirit of this Act, it may give to the authority a recommendation specifying the steps which ought in its opinion to be taken for promoting such conformity.<br />Monitoring and Reporting<br />Appropriate Government to prepare programmes<br />26. (1) The appropriate Government may, to the extent of availability of financial and other resources,—<br />(a) develop and organise educational programmes to advance the understanding of the public, in particular of disadvantaged communities as to how to exercise the rights contemplated under this Act;<br />20 THE GAZETTER OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—<br />(b) encourage public authorities to participate in the development and organisation of programmes referred to in clause (a) and to undertake such programmes themselves;<br />(c) promote timely and effective dissemination of accurate information by public authorities about their activities; and<br />(d) train Central Public Information Officers or State Public Information Officers, as the case may be, of public authorities and produce relevant training materials for use by the public authorities themselves.<br />(2) The appropriate Government shall, within eighteen months from the commencement of this Act, compile in its official language a guide containing such information, in an easily comprehensible form and manner, as may reasonably be required by a person who wishes to exercise any right specified in this Act.<br />(3) The appropriate Government shall, if necessary, update and publish the guidelines referred to in sub-section (2) at regular intervals which shall, in particular and without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (2), include—<br />(a) the objects of this Act;<br />(b) the postal and street address, the phone and fax number and, if available, electronic mail address of the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, of every public authority appointed under sub-section (1) of section 5;<br />(c) the manner and the form in which request for access to an information shall be made to a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be;<br />(d) the assistance available from and the duties of the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, of a public authority under this Act;<br />(e) the assistance available from the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be;<br />(f) all remedies in law available regarding an act or failure to act in respect of a right or duty conferred or imposed by this Act including the manner of filing an appeal to the Commission;<br />(g) the provisions providing for the voluntary disclosure of categories of records in accordance with section 4;<br />(h) the notices regarding fees to be paid in relation to requests for access to an information; and<br />(i) any additional regulations or circulars made or issued in relation to obtaining access to an information in accordance with this Act.<br />(4) The appropriate Government must, if necessary, update and publish the guidelines at regular intervals.<br />27. (1) The appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.<br />(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—<br />(a) the cost of the medium or print cost price of the materials to be disseminated under sub-section (4) of section 4;<br />(b) the fee payable under sub-section (1) of section 6;<br />(c) the fee payable under sub-sections (1) and (5) of section 7;<br />(d) the salaries and allowances payable to and the terms and conditions of service of the officers and other employees under sub-section (6) of section 13 and<br />Power to make rules by appropriate Government<br />SEC.1 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 21<br />sub-section (6) of section 16;<br />(e) the procedure to be adopted by the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, in deciding the appeals under sub-section (10) of section 19; and<br />(f) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed.<br />28. (1) The competent authority may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.<br />(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—<br />(i) the cost of the medium or print cost price of the materials to be disseminated under sub-section (4) of section 4;<br />(ii) the fee payable under sub-section (1) of section 6;<br />(iii) the fee payable under sub-section (1) of section 7; and<br />(iv) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed<br />Power to make rules by competent authority.<br />29. (1) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.<br />(2) Every rule made under this Act by a State Government shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is notified, before the State Legislature.<br />Laying of rules.<br />30. (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removal of the difficulty:<br />Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of a period of two years from the date of the commencement of this Act.<br />(2) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be laid before each House of Parliament.<br />Power to remove difficulties.<br />Repeal<br />31. The Freedom of Information Act, 2002 is hereby repealed.<br />5 of 2003<br />22 THE GAZETTER OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—<br />THE FIRST SCHEDULE<br />[See sections 13 (3) and 16(3)]<br />Form of oath or affirmation to be made by the Chief Information Commissioner/the Information Commissioner/the State Chief Information Commissioner/the State Information Commissioner<br />"I, ....................., having been appointed Chief Information Commissioner /Information Commissioner / State Chief Information Commissioner / State Information Commissioner swear in the name of God solemnly affirm<br />that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, that I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my ability, knowledge and judgment perform the duties of my office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will and that I will uphold the Constitution and the laws.".<br />SEC.1 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 23<br />THE SECOND SCHEDULE<br />(See section 24)<br />Intelligence and security organisation established by the Central Government<br />1. Intelligence Bureau.<br />2. Research and Analysis Wing of the Cabinet Secretariat.<br />3. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.<br />4. Central Economic Intelligence Bureau.<br />5. Directorate of Enforcement.<br />6. Narcotics Control Bureau.<br />7. Aviation Research Centre.<br />8. Special Prontier Force.<br />9. Border Security Force.<br />10. Central Reserve Police Force.<br />11. Indo-Tibetan Border Police.<br />12. Central Industrial Security Force.<br />13. National Security Guards.<br />14. Assam Rifles.<br />15. Special Service Bureau<br />16. Special Branch (CID), Andaman and Nicobar.<br />17. The Crime Branch-C.I.D.-CB, Dadra and Nagar Haveli.<br />18. Special Branch, Lakshadweep Police.<br />T. K. VISWANATHAN, Secy. to the Govt. of India.<br />Printed by THE Manager, Government of India Press, Minto Road, New Delhi and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi, 2005.<br />MGIPMRND—1359GI(S3)—22-06-2005.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-29345211118448355532011-04-26T07:00:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:37.381-05:00Freedom of Information Ordinance, 2002 - Pakistan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002<br />Government of Pakistan Ministry of law, Human Rights and Parliamentary affairs (Law, Justice and Human Rights Division)<br />F. No. 2(1)/2002-Pub. Islamabad. The 26th October 2002.<br />The following Ordinance Promulgated by the President is hereby published for general information: - ORDINANCE NO. XCVI OF 2002. AN ORDINANCE<br />To provide for transparency and freedom of information. WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for transparency and freedom of information to ensure that the citizens of Pakistan have improved access to public records and for the purpose to make the Federal Government more accountable to its citizens, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.<br />AND WHEREAS the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which renders it necessary to take immediate action.<br />NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the Proclamation of Emergency of the fourteenth day of October, 1999, and the provisional Constitution Order No. 1 of 1999, read with the provisional Constitution (Amendment) Order No. 9 of 1999, and in exercise of all powers enabling him in that behalf, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance: -<br />1. Short title, extent and commencement. - (1) This Ordinance may be called the Freedom of Information Ordinance, 2002.<br />(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. (3) It shall come into force at once. 2. Definition. - In this Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, -<br />(a) "complainant" means (i) a requester, or (ii) any person acting for and on behalf of requester; (b) "complaint" means any allegation in writing made by a complainant, (i) where he is requester, that access to record has been wrongfully denied to him by a public body;<br />(ii) Where he is a requester, that access to and/or correction of his personal information has been wrongfully denied to him by a public body having the custody or control of the record;<br />(iii) Where he is requester that the information requested by him has been unduly delayed by a public body;<br />(c) "designated official" means an official of a public body designated under section 10;<br />(d) "employee" in relation to a pubic body, means person employed in a public body whether permanently or temporary;<br />(e) "Federal Tax Ombudsman" means Federal Tax Ombudsman appointed under section 3 of the Establishment of the Office of Federal Tax Ombudsman Ordinance, 2000 (XXXV of 2000);<br />(f) "Mohtasib" means the Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman) appointed under Article 3 of the Establishment of the office of the Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman) Order, 1983 (P.O. No. 1 of 1983);<br />(g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Ordinance;<br />(h) "public body" means,-<br />(i) any Ministry, Division or attached department of the Federal Government;<br />(ii) Secretariat of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament);<br />(iii) Any office of any Board Commission, Council, or other body established by or under, a Federal law;<br />(iv) Courts and tribunals;<br />(i) "record" means record in any form, whether printed or in writing and includes any map, diagram, photography, film, microfilm, which is used for official purpose by the public body which holds the record;<br />3. Access to information not to be denied. - (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, and subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, no requester shall be denied access to any official record other than exemptions as provided in section 15.<br />(2) This Ordinance shall be interpreted so as (i) to advance the purposes of this Ordinance, and<br />(ii) to facilitate and encourage, promptly and at the lowest reasonable cost, the disclosure of information.<br />4. Maintenance and indexing of records. - Subject to provisions of this Ordinance and in accordance with the rules that may be prescribed, each public body shall ensure that all records covered under clause (i) of section 2 of this Ordinance are properly maintained.<br />5. Publication and availability of records. - The acts and subordinate legislation such as rules and regulations, notifications, by-laws, manuals, orders having the force of law in Pakistan shall be duly published and made available to a reasonable<br />price at an adequate number of outlets so that access thereof is easier, less time-consuming and less expensive.<br />6. Computerization of records. - Each public body shall endeavour within reasonable time and subject to availability of resources that all records covered by the provisions of this Ordinance are computerized and connected through a network all over the country on different systems so that authorised access to such records is facilitated.<br />7. Declaration of public records. - Subject to the provisions of section 8, the following record of all public bodies are hereby declared to be the public record, namely: -<br />(a) policies and guidelines;<br />(b) transactions involving acquisition and disposal of properly and expenditure undertaken by a public body in the performance of its duties;<br />(c) information regarding grant of licences, allotments and other benefits and privileges and contracts and agreements made by public body;<br />(d) final orders and decisions, including decisions relation to members of public; and<br />(e) any other record, which may be notified by the Federal Government as public record for the purposes of this Ordinance.<br />8. Exclusion of certain record. - Nothing contained in section 7 shall apply to the following record of all public bodies, namely: -<br />(a) noting on the files;<br />(b) minutes of meetings;<br />(c) any intermediary opinion or recommendation;<br />(d) record of the banking companies and financial institutions relating to the accounts of their customers;<br />(e) record relating to defence forces, defence installations or connected therewith or ancillary to defence and national security;<br />(f) record declared as classified by the Federal Government;<br />(g) record relating to the personal privacy of any individual;<br />(h) record of private documents furnished to a public body either on an express or implied condition that information contained in any such documents shall not be disclosed to a third person; and<br />(i) any other record which the Federal Government may, in public interest exclude from the purview of this Ordinance.<br />9. Duty to assist requesters. - A public body shall take necessary steps as may be prescribed to assist any requester under this Ordinance.<br />10. Designation of official. - (1) A public body shall designate and notify an officer or employee to whom requests under this Ordinance are to be made. These officials will be designated to ensure easy public access to information.<br />(2) In case no such official has been designated or in the event of the absence or non-availability of the designated official, the person incharge of the public body shall be the designated official.<br />11. Functions of designated official. - Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance and the rules made thereunder and the instructions if any, of the Federal Government, the designated official shall provide the information contained in any public record or, as the case may be, a copy of any such record.<br />12. Applications for obtaining information, etc.- (1) Subject to sub-section (2), any citizen of Pakistan may make an application to the designated official in the form as may be prescribed and shall with his application, furnish necessary particulars, pay such fee and at such time as may be prescribed.<br />(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to such public record as has been published in the Official Gazette or in the form of a book offered for sale.<br />13. Procedure for disposal of applications. - (1) Subject to sub-section (2), on receiving an application under section 12, the designated official shall, within twenty-one days of the receipt of request, supply to the applicant the required information or, as the case may be a copy of any public record.<br />(2) In case the designated official is of the opinion that -<br />(a) the application is not in the form as has been prescribed;<br />(b) the applicant has not furnished necessary particulars or has not paid such fee as has been prescribed;<br />(c) the applicant is not entitled to receive such information;<br />(d) the required information or, as the case may be, the required record does not constitute a public record under section 7;<br />(e) the required information or, as the case may be, the required record constitutes a record which is excluded under section 8,<br />he shall record his decision in writing and the applicant shall be informed about such decision within twenty-one days of the receipt of the application.<br />(3) The information from, or the copy of, any public record supplied to the applicant under sub-section (1), shall contain a certificate at the foot thereof that the information is correct or, as the case may be, the copy is a true copy of such public record, and such certificate shall be dated and signed by the designated official.<br />14. Exempt information from disclosure. - Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, a public body shall not be required to disclose exempt information.<br />15. International relations. - (1) Information may be exempt if its disclosure would be likely to cause grave and significant damage to the interests of Pakistan in the conduct of international relation.<br />(2) In this Section, "international relations" means relation between Pakistan and (a) the government of any other foreign State; or<br />(b) an organization of which only States are members.<br />16. Disclosure harmful to law enforcement. - Information may be exempt if its disclosure is likely to<br />(a) result in the commission of an offence;<br />(b) harm the detection, prevention, investigation or inquiry in a particular case;<br />(c) reveal the identity of a confidential source of information;<br />(d) facilitate an escape from legal custody;<br />(e) harm the security of any property or system, including a building, a vehicle, a computer system or a communication system.<br />17. Privacy and personal information. - Information is exempt if its disclosure under this Ordinance would involve the invasion of the privacy of an identifiable individual (including a deceased individual) other than requester.<br />18. Economic and commercial affairs. - Information is exempt if and so long as its disclosure<br />(a) would be likely to cause grave and significant damage to the economy as a result of the premature disclosure of the proposed introduction, abolition of variation of any tax, duty, interest rate, exchange rate or any other instrument of economic management;<br />(b) would be likely to cause significant damage to the financial interests of the public body by giving an unreasonable advantage to any person in relation to a contract which that person is seeking to enter into with the public body for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services, or<br />(c) by revealing information to a competitor of the public body, would be likely to cause significant damage to the lawful commercial activities of the public body.<br />19. Recourse to the Mohtasib and Federal Tax Ombudsman. - (1) If the applicant is not provided the information or copy of the record declared public record under section 7 within the prescribed time or the designated official refuses to give such information or, as the case may be, copy of such record, on the ground that the applicant is not entitled to receive such information or copy of such record, the applicant may, within thirty days of the last date of the prescribed time for giving such information or, as the case may be, of such record, or the communication of the order of the designated official declining to give such information or copy of such record, file a complaint with the head of the public body and on failing to get the requested information from him within the prescribed time may file a complaint with the Mohtasib and in cases relating to Revenue Division, its subordinate departments, offices and agencies with the Federal Tax Ombudsman.<br />(2) The Mohtasib or the Federal Tax Ombudsman, as the case may be, may, after hearing the applicant and the designated official, direct the designated official to give the information or, as the case may be, the copy of the record, or may reject the complaint.<br />20. Dismissal of frivolous, vexatious and malicious complaint. - Where a complaint instituted is found to be malicious, frivolous or vexatious, the complaint may be dismissed by Mohtasib, and fine may be imposed on the complainant up to an amount not exceeding ten thousands rupees.<br />21. Offence. - Any person who destroys a record which at the time it was destroyed was the subject of a request, or of a complaint with the intention of preventing its disclosure under this Ordinance, commits an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or with fine, or with both.<br />22. Indemnity. - No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything which is done in good faith or intended to be done in pursuance of this Ordinance or any rules made thereunder.<br />23. Ordinance not to derogate other laws. - The provision of this Ordinance shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, anything contained in any other law for the time being in force.<br />24. Power to remove difficulties. - If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Ordinance, the Federal Government may, by order in the official Gazette, make such provision not inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty.<br />25. Power to make rules. - (1) The Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance.<br />(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, such rules may provide for -<br />(a) the fee payable for obtaining information from, and copies of the public record;<br />(b) the form of application for obtaining information from, and copies of, the public record; and<br />(c) the form in which information from public record shall be furnished.<br />GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF President ____________________ Mr. Justice (MANSOOR AHMAD) SECRETARY</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-37328648413595812702011-04-26T06:58:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:37.474-05:00Freedom of Information Act, 2005 - Germany<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Federal Act<br />Governing Access to Information held by the<br />Federal Government<br />(Freedom of Information Act)<br />of 5 September 2005<br />(Federal Law Gazette I,<br />p. 2722)<br />The Bundestag has passed the following legislation:<br />Section 1<br />Underlying principles<br />(1) Everyone is entitled to official information from the authorities of the Federal<br />Government in accordance with the provisions of this Act. This Act shall apply to<br />other Federal bodies and institutions insofar as they discharge administrative tasks<br />under public law. For the purposes of these provisions, a natural or legal person shall<br />be treated as equivalent to an authority where an authority avails itself of such a<br />person in discharging its duties under public law.<br />(2) The authority may furnish information, grant access to files or provide information<br />in any other manner. Where an applicant requests a certain form of access to<br />information, the information may only be provided by other means for good cause. In<br />particular, substantially higher administrative expenditure shall constitute good<br />cause.<br />(3) Provisions in other legislation on access to official information shall take<br />precedence, with the exception of Section 29 of the Administrative Procedure Act<br />(VwVfG) and Section 25 of Book Ten of the Social Code.<br />Section 2<br />Definitions<br />For the purposes of this Act,<br />1. official information shall be defined as every record serving official purposes,<br />irrespective of the mode of storage. This shall not include drafts and notes which<br />are not intended to form part of a file;<br />2. a third person shall be defined as anyone on whom personal data or other<br />information are held.<br />Section 3<br />Protection of special public<br />interests<br />The entitlement to access to information shall not apply<br />1. where disclosure of the information may have detrimental effects on<br />a) international relations,<br />b) military and other security-critical interests of the Federal Armed Forces,<br />c) internal or external security interests,<br />d) monitoring or supervisory tasks of the financial, competition and regulatory<br />authorities,<br />e) matters of external financial control,<br />f) measures to prevent illicit foreign trade,<br />g) the course of current judicial proceedings, a person’s entitlement to a fair trial<br />or the pursuit of investigations into criminal, administrative or disciplinary<br />offences,<br />2. where disclosure of the information may endanger public safety,<br />3. where and for as long as<br />a) the necessary confidentiality of international negotiations or<br />b) consultations between authorities are compromised,<br />4. where the information is subject to an obligation to observe secrecy or<br />confidentiality by virtue of a statutory regulation or the general administrative<br />regulation on the material and organisational protection of classified information,<br />or where the information is subject to professional or special official secrecy,<br />5. with regard to information obtained on a temporary basis from another public<br />body which is not intended to form part of the authority’s own files,<br />6. where disclosure of the information would be capable of compromising fiscal<br />interests of the Federal Government in trade and commerce or economic<br />interests of the social insurance institutions,<br />7. in the case of information obtained or transferred in confidence, where the third<br />party’s interest in confidential treatment still applies at the time of the application<br />for access to the information,<br />8. with regard to the intelligence services and the authorities and other public bodies<br />of the Federal Government, where these perform duties pursuant to Section 10,<br />no. 3 of the Security Clearance Check Act (SÜG).<br />Section 4<br />Protection of the official decisionmaking<br />process<br />(1) Applications for access to information should be rejected for drafts relating to<br />rulings and studies and decisions relating directly to the preparation of rulings,<br />insofar as and for as long as premature disclosure of the information would obstruct<br />the success of the ruling or impending official measures. Routine results of the taking<br />and hearing of evidence and expert opinions or statements from third parties shall<br />not be deemed to relate directly to the preparation of rulings pursuant to sentence 1.<br />(2) The applicant should be notified of the conclusion of the proceedings concerned.<br />Section 5<br />Protection of personal data<br />(1) Access to personal data may only be granted where the applicant’s interest in<br />obtaining the information outweighs the third party’s interests warranting exclusion of<br />access to the information or where the third party has provided his or her consent.<br />Special types of personal data within the meaning of Section 3 (9) of the Federal<br />Data Protection Act (BDSG) may only be transferred subject to the express consent<br />of the third party concerned.<br />(2) The applicant’s interest in accessing information shall not predominate in the<br />case of information from records relating to the third party’s service or official<br />capacity or a mandate held by the third party or in the case of information which is<br />subject to professional or official secrecy.<br />(3) The applicant’s interest in accessing information shall generally outweigh the third<br />party’s interests warranting exclusion of access to the information where the<br />information is limited to the third party’s name, title, university degree, designation of<br />profession and function, official address and official telecommunications number and<br />the third party has submitted a statement in proceedings in the capacity of a<br />consultant or expert or in a comparable capacity.<br />(4) Names, titles, university degrees, designations of professions and functions,<br />official addresses and official telecommunications numbers of desk officers shall not<br />be excluded from the scope of access to information where they are an expression<br />and consequence of official activities and no exceptional circumstances apply.<br />Section 6<br />Protection of intellectual property and<br />business or trade secrets<br />No entitlement to access to information shall apply where such access<br />compromises the protection of intellectual property. Access to business or trade<br />secrets may only be granted subject to the data subject’s consent.<br />Section 7<br />Application and<br />procedure<br />(1) The authority which is authorised to dispose of the requested information decides<br />on the application for access to information. In the case of Section 1 (1), sentence 3<br />the application is to be filed with the authority which avails itself of the natural or legal<br />person under private law in discharging its duties under public law. Pertinent reasons<br />must be stated for applications concerning third parties within the meaning of Section<br />5 (1) and (2) or Section 6. In the case of uniform applications from more than 50<br />persons, Sections 17 to 19 of the Administrative Procedure Act shall apply mutatis<br />mutandis.<br />(2) Where an entitlement to partial access to information applies, the appurtenant<br />application is to be granted to the extent to which information can be accessed<br />without revealing information which is subject to confidentiality or without<br />unreasonable administrative expenditure. The same shall apply where the applicant<br />agrees to information concerning the interests of third parties being blanked out.<br />(3) Information may be furnished verbally, in writing or in electronic form. The<br />authority is not obliged to verify that the contents of the information are correct.<br />(4) When examining official information, the applicant may take notes or arrange to<br />have photocopies and print-outs produced. Section 6, sentence 1 shall remain<br />unaffected.<br />(5) The information is to be made accessible to the applicant forthwith, with due<br />regard to his or her interests. Access to the information should be provided within<br />one month. Section 8 shall remain unaffected<br />Section 8<br />Procedure when third parties<br />are involved<br />(1) The authority shall grant a third party whose interests are affected by the<br />application for access to information opportunity to submit a written statement within<br />one month when there are indications that the said third party may have an interest<br />warranting exclusion of access to the information.<br />(2) The decision pursuant to Section 7 (1), sentence 1 shall be provided in writing<br />and shall also be notified to the third party. The information may only be accessed<br />when the decision is final and absolute in relation to the third party or if immediate<br />enforcement has been ordered and a period of two weeks has elapsed since<br />notifying the third party of the order. Section 9 (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis.<br />Section 9<br />Rejection of the application:<br />Legal remedies<br />(1) Notification of a ruling rejecting the application in part or in its entirety is to be<br />provided within the period stipulated in Section 7 (5), sentence 2.<br />(2) In cases in which the authority rejects the application in part or in its entirety, it is<br />to provide notification as to whether and when partial or full access to the information<br />is likely to be possible at a later juncture.<br />(3) The application may be rejected where the applicant is already in possession of<br />the requested information or can reasonably be expected to obtain the information<br />from generally accessible sources.<br />(4) It is permissible to challenge the decision to reject the application by lodging an<br />administrative appeal or bringing an action to compel performance of the requested<br />administrative act.<br />Administrative appeal proceedings pursuant to the provisions of Part 8 of the Code<br />of Administrative Court Procedure (VwGO) are also to be carried out when the<br />decision has been reached by a supreme federal authority.<br />Section 10<br />Fees and expenses<br />(1) Fees and expenses shall be charged for official acts pursuant to this Act.<br />This shall not apply to the furnishing of basic items of information.<br />(2) With due regard to the administrative expenditure involved, the fees shall be<br />calculated such as to ensure that access to information pursuant to Section 1 can be<br />claimed effectively.<br />(3) The Federal Ministry of the Interior is authorised to assess the facts and<br />circumstances determining the commensurate fee and to fix the scales of fees for<br />official acts pursuant to this Act by means of statutory instruments, without the<br />approval of the Bundesrat. Section 15 (2) of the Administrative Costs Act (VwKG)<br />shall not be applicable.<br />Section 11<br />Obligations to publish<br />information<br />(1) The authorities should keep directories identifying the available information<br />resources and the purposes of the collected information.<br />(2) Organisational and filing plans without any reference to personal data shall be<br />made generally accessible in accordance with the provisions of this Act.<br />(3) The authorities should make the plans and directories stated in sub-sections 1<br />and 2 and other appropriate information generally accessible in electronic form.<br />Section 12<br />Federal Commissioner for Freedom of<br />Information<br />(1) Anyone considering their right to access to information pursuant to this Act to have<br />been violated may appeal to the Federal Commissioner for Freedom of Information.<br />(2) The function of Federal Commissioner for Freedom of Information shall be<br />performed by the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection.<br />(3) The provisions of the Federal Data Protection Act on the monitoring tasks of the<br />Federal Commissioner for Data Protection (Section 24 (1) and (3) to (5)), on<br />complaints (Section 25 (1), sentence 1, nos. 1 and 4, sentence 2 and sub-sections 2<br />and 3) and on further tasks pursuant to Section 26 (1) to (3) shall apply mutatis<br />mutandis.<br />Section 13<br />Amendments to other<br />regulations<br />(1) The Federal Data Protection Act, as promulgated on 14 January 2003<br />(Federal Law Gazette I, p. 66), shall be amended as follows:<br />In the information in the table of contents regarding Chapter III in Part II and<br />Sections 21 to 26 and in Section 4c (2), sentence 2, Section 4d (1), (6), sentence 3,<br />Section 6 (2), sentence 4, Section 10 (3), sentence 1, Section 19 (5), sentence 2,<br />Section 6, sentence 1, in the title of Chapter III in Part II, in Sections 21 to 26, in<br />Section 42 (1), sentence 1, 2nd clause, Section 4, sentence 3 and Section 44 (2),<br />sentence 2, the words “for Data Protection” are to be replaced in each instance by<br />the words “for Data Protection and Freedom of Information”.<br />(2) The following sentence is to be added to Section 5 (4) of the Federal Records<br />Office Act (BArchG) of 6 January 1988 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 62), most recently<br />amended by the Act of 5 June 2002 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 1782):<br />“The same shall apply to archival materials, where access to the information was<br />available in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (IFG) prior to transfer to<br />the Federal archives or the archives of the legislative bodies.”<br />Section 14<br />Reporting and<br />evaluation<br />The Federal Government shall report to the German Bundestag on application of this<br />Act two years prior to its expiry. The German Bundestag shall evaluate the Act on a<br />scientific basis one year prior to its expiry.<br />Section 15<br />Entry into<br />force<br />This Act shall enter into force on 1 January 2006.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-28643706261830695262011-04-26T06:56:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:37.568-05:00Freedom of Information Act, FIA), 2007- Switzerland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Federal Act<br />on the Principle of Freedom of Information in Public Administration<br />(Freedom of Information Act, FIA)<br />of 17 December 2004 (Status as of 1 January 2007)<br />The Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation,<br />on the basis of Article 173(2) of the Constitution1,<br />upon consideration of the accompanying Report of the Federal Council of 12 February<br />20032<br />decrees as follows:<br />Section 1 General Provisions<br />Art. 1 Object and Purpose<br />This Act seeks to promote transparency with regard to the mandate, organisation and<br />activities of the Public Administration. For this purpose, it shall contribute to informing<br />the public by ensuring access to official documents.<br />Art. 2 Scope: Ratione Personae<br />1<br />This Act shall apply to:<br />a. The Federal Administration<br />b. Public and private bodies, existing outside of the Federal Administration,<br />insofar as they pass acts or hand down decisions in the first instance within the<br />meaning of Article 5 of the Federal Act of December 20, 1968 on<br />Administrative Procedures (Administrative Procedures Act)3;<br />c. The Parliamentary Services.<br />2<br />This Act shall not apply to the Swiss National Bank or the Swiss Federal Banking<br />Commission.<br />3<br />The Federal Council shall be authorised to exclude other departments of the Federal<br />Administration, as well as other public and private bodies outside the Federal<br />Administration, from the scope of this Act, should:<br />a. the functions assigned to same so require;<br />b. their competitiveness be prejudiced by being subject to this Act; or<br />c. the functions assigned to them be of only minor importance.<br />1 SR [Systematic Register of Federal Legislation] 101<br />2 BBl [Federal Gazette] 2003 1807<br />3 SR 172.021<br />152.3 Fundamental Rights<br />2<br />Art. 3 Scope: Ratione Materiae<br />1<br />This Act shall not apply to:<br />a. Access to official documents relating to:<br />1. Civil proceedings;<br />2. Criminal proceedings;<br />3. International legal and administrative assistance proceedings;<br />4. International dispute settlement proceedings;<br />5. Constitutional and administrative judiciary proceedings; or<br />6. Arbitration proceedings; and<br />b. The consultation, by a party, of the case file in first-instance administrative<br />proceedings.<br />2<br />Access to official documents containing personal information about the applicant shall<br />be governed by the Federal Act of 19 June 1992 on Data Protection (Data Protection<br />Act)4.<br />Art. 4 Reservation of Special Provisions<br />Special provisions contained in other Federal Acts shall be reserved where they:<br />a. declare certain information secret; or<br />b. declare certain information accessible subject to requirements differing from<br />those set out herein;<br />Art. 5 Official Documents<br />1<br />An official document shall be any information:<br />a. which has been recorded, regardless of the medium;<br />b. retained by the authority which issued same or to which it has been<br />communicated; and<br />c. which concern the execution of a public function.<br />2<br />Documents which have been produced by means of a simple computerized process<br />from recorded information which meets the requirements pursuant to (a), (b) and (c)<br />above, shall be deemed to be official documents.<br />3<br />Not deemed to be official documents are any documents which:<br />a. are used by an authority in a commercial capacity;<br />b. have not been issued; or<br />c. are intended for personal use.<br />4 SR 235.1<br />Freedom of Information Act 152.3<br />3<br />Section 2 Right of Access to Official Documents<br />Art. 6 Principle of Freedom of Information<br />1<br />Every person shall have the right to inspect official documents and to obtain<br />information about the contents of official documents.<br />2<br />The documents may be inspected in situ or a copy thereof may be requested.<br />Legislation governing copyright shall be reserved.<br />3<br />Where an official document has already been published by the Federal Government, in<br />paper or electronic format, the provisions pursuant to (1) and (2) above shall be deemed<br />to have been fulfilled.<br />Art. 7 Exceptions<br />1<br />The right of access shall be limited, deferred or denied, should such access to an<br />official document:<br />a. significantly impair the free opinion-forming and decision-making processes<br />of an authority which is subject to this Act, or of another legislative,<br />administrative or judicial body;<br />b. affect the execution of specific measures taken by an authority in conformity<br />with its objectives;<br />c. be likely to compromise the domestic and international security of<br />Switzerland;<br />d. be likely to affect the interests of Switzerland in matters of foreign policy and<br />international relations;<br />e. be likely to affect relations between the Federal Government and the cantons<br />or inter-cantonal relations;<br />f. be likely to affect the economic or monetary interests of Switzerland;<br />g. reveal professional, business or manufacturing secrets; or<br />h. result in the release of information provided voluntarily by a third party to an<br />authority which undertook to maintain secrecy with regard thereto.<br />2<br />The right of access shall be limited, deferred or denied, should said access to an<br />official document prejudice the privacy of a third party, unless exceptionally<br />outweighed by public interest.<br />Art. 8 Special Cases<br />1<br />There shall be no right of access to official documents of joint reporting proceedings.<br />2<br />Access to official documents shall only be granted after the political or administrative<br />decisions which they form the basis of have been taken.<br />152.3 Fundamental Rights<br />4<br />3<br />By way of exception, the Federal Council may decide to withhold access to official<br />documents resulting from official departmental consultation processes even after rulings<br />have been made.<br />4<br />Under no circumstances shall access to official documents about the status of pending<br />or future negotiations be granted.<br />5<br />Access to reports on the evaluation of the performance of the Federal Administration<br />and the effectiveness of its measures shall be ensured.<br />Art. 9 Protection of Personal Data<br />1<br />Official documents containing personal data shall, wherever possible, be rendered<br />anonymous prior to inspection.<br />2<br />Where a request for access covers official documents which cannot be rendered<br />anonymous, Article 19 of the Federal Data Protection Act5 shall apply. The relevant<br />procedure shall be governed by this Act.<br />Section 3 Procedure for Access to Official Documents<br />Art. 10 Access Application<br />1<br />An application for access to official documents shall be addressed to the authority<br />which created same or received same as primary addressee from third parties not subject<br />to this Act.<br />2<br />The Federal Council may provide a special procedure for access to official documents<br />by Swiss representation abroad and by missions to international organisations.<br />3<br />The application must be formulated in a sufficiently accurate manner.<br />4<br />The Federal Council shall enact regulations governing the particulars of this procedure:<br />a. it shall take the special needs of the media into account;<br />b. should a large number of applications cover the same documents, it may<br />stipulate other modalities governing such access;<br />c. it may extend the processing deadlines for applications which require<br />particularly extensive processing.<br />Art. 11 Consultation<br />1<br />Should an application be made for access to official documents which contain personal<br />data, and which the authority is considering granting, it shall consult the person<br />concerned and afford him the opportunity to submit comments within ten days.<br />2<br />The authority shall then inform such consulted person of the position it intends to take<br />concerning the application for access.<br />5 SR 235.1<br />Freedom of Information Act 152.3<br />5<br />Art. 12 Decision of the Authority<br />1<br />The authority shall make a decision as soon as possible; no later than 20 days after<br />receipt of the application.<br />2<br />Said deadline may, under exceptional circumstances, be extended by 20 days, should<br />the application for access concern a large number of documents or documents which are<br />complex or difficult to obtain. Should an application concern official documents<br />containing personal information, the deadline shall be extended for the required period.<br />3<br />Should an application concern official documents containing personal information, the<br />authority shall suspend access until the legal situation has been clarified.<br />4<br />The authority shall inform the applicant, with summary grounds, of any extension of<br />the deadline, limitation or denial of access. Information concerning the limitation or<br />denial of access, as well as the grounds therefore, shall be conveyed in writing.<br />Art. 13 Mediation<br />1<br />A request for mediation may be filed by any person:<br />a. whose access to official documents has been limited, deferred or denied;<br />b. whose application was not decided by the authority within the deadline;<br />c. who was consulted pursuant to Art. 11, should the authority intend granting<br />access contrary to his disapproval.<br />2<br />The request for mediation must be filed in writing with the Federal Data Protection and<br />Information Commissioner within 20 days of receipt of the decision from the authority<br />or the date of the authority’s failure to comply with the deadline.<br />3<br />Should mediation succeed, the matter shall be deemed to have been settled.<br />Art. 14 Recommendation<br />Should mediation fail to succeed, the Federal Data Protection and Information<br />Commissioner shall provide the participants to the mediation proceedings with a written<br />recommendation within 30 days of receipt of the request for mediation.<br />Art. 15 Decision<br />1<br />Within ten days of receipt of the recommendation, the applicant or the person<br />consulted may request a decision pursuant to Article 5 of the Administrative Procedures<br />Act6.<br />2<br />Furthermore, the authority shall hand down a decision, where, contrary to the<br />recommendation, it intends to:<br />6 SR 172.021<br />152.3 Fundamental Rights<br />6<br />a. limit, defer or deny the right of access to an official document;<br />b. grant the right of access to an official document containing personal<br />information.<br />3<br />A decision shall be handed down within 20 days of the date of receipt of the<br />recommendation or the request for a decision pursuant to (1) above.<br />Art. 167<br />Appeal<br />1<br />Appeals proceedings shall be subject to the general provisions found in the relevant<br />legislation governing the Federal administration of justice.<br />2<br />The instances called upon to hear any appeals shall also have access to official<br />documents which are secret.<br />Art. 17 Fees<br />1<br />In principle, access to official documents shall be subject to payment of a fee.<br />2<br />No fee shall be charged for:<br />a. the processing of an application which gives rise to minimal costs;<br />b. mediation proceedings (Art. 13); and<br />c. proceedings before the first instance (Art. 15).<br />3<br />The Federal Council shall enact modalities and fee rates on the basis of the effective<br />costs incurred. Special provisions set out in other legisltative Acts shall be reserved.<br />4<br />Fees may, in any event, be charged for the release of reports, brochures and other<br />printed material and information carriers.<br />Section 4 Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner<br />Art. 18 Duties and Competencies<br />The Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (the Commissioner)<br />pursuant to Article 26 of the Federal Data Protection Act8 shall, in particular, have the<br />following duties and competencies under the present Act:<br />a. Conducting mediation proceedings (Art. 13) and making a recommendation<br />(Art. 14), should mediation not succeed;<br />7 SR 172.021<br />8 SR 235.1<br />Freedom of Information Act 152.3<br />7<br />b. Providing information ex officio, or at the request of individuals or authorities,<br />on the modalities governing access to official documents;<br />c. Commenting on draft legislation and measures of the Federal Government<br />which have a fundamental impact on the principle of freedom of information.<br />Art. 19 Evaluation<br />1<br />The Commissioner shall review the execution and effectiveness of this Act and, in<br />particular, the costs incurred by its implementation, and shall report on a regular basis to<br />the Federal Council.<br />2<br />The Commissioner shall submit the first report on the implementation costs of this Act<br />to the Federal Council within three years of its entry into force.<br />3<br />The reports of the Commissioner shall be published.<br />Art. 20 Right to Information and Inspection<br />1<br />Within the context of mediation proceedings, the Commissioner shall have access to<br />official documents, even if same are subject to secrecy.<br />2<br />The Commissioner and his secretariat shall be subject to official secrecy to the same<br />extent as the authorities whose official documents they inspect or from whom they<br />obtain information.<br />Section 5 Concluding Provisions<br />Art. 21 Execution<br />The Federal Council may, in particular, enact provisions governing the:<br />a. processing of official documents;<br />b. information pertaining to official documents;<br />c. publication of official documents.<br />Art. 22 Amendments to Existing Legislation<br />Amendments to existing legislation shall be governed pursuant to the Annex.<br />Art. 23 Transitional Provisions<br />This Act shall apply to official documents produced or received by authorities after its<br />entry into force.<br />152.3 Fundamental Rights<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-49297916371016597712011-04-26T06:53:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:37.662-05:00Access to Administrative Document Act, 1985 - Denmark<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Act No. 572, 19 December 1985,<br />THE DANISH ACCESS TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIVE<br />DOCUMENTS ACT1<br />We, Margrethe the Second, by the grace of God Queen of Denmark, do hereby make<br />known: the Folketing has passed and we by our assent have affirmed the following Act:<br />Chapter 1<br />Scope<br />Section 1<br />l. This Act shall apply to all activity exercised by public administrative authorities, but<br />see also Sections 2 and 3.<br />2. This Act shall also apply to<br />1) any public utility generating, transmitting, or distributing electricity at voltages of<br />500 volts or more;<br />2) any company, institution, association etc. which supplies natural gas;<br />3) any collective district heating plant falling under the Danish Heating Act which<br />has a capacity over 10 MJ/s.<br />3. After consulting with the Minister for Justice, the minister concerned may stipulate<br />that this Act shall apply also to specified companies, institutions, associations etc. that<br />cannot be classified as part of the public administration, provided that the operating<br />expenses of such entities are mainly covered by central or local government funds or to<br />the extent that they are empowered by law or provisions laid down pursuant thereto to<br />make decisions on behalf of central or local governments. The minister concerned may<br />also lay down more detailed rules on document filing etc..<br />Section 2<br />1. This Act shall not apply to criminal justice cases. Section 6 alone shall apply to<br />matters concerning the appointment or promotion of public servants.<br />2. This Act shall apply to legislative matters, including appropriation acts, provided that<br />the Bill in question has been presented to the Folketing.<br />Section 3<br />1. After consulting with the Minister for Justice, the minister concerned may stipulate<br />that specified authorities or fields of administrative responsibility or types of documents,<br />requests for access to documents in respect of which could normally be refused under<br />Sections 7-14 of this Act, shall be exempt from the provisions of this Act.<br />1 The Act shall enter into force on 1 January 1987, in accordance with Section 17.<br />2. The minister concerned may stipulate that, after a certain number of years, a right of<br />access shall be granted in respect of specified documents that are not otherwise subject to<br />the right of access to administrative documents under this Act.<br />Chapter 2<br />Right of access to administrative documents<br />Section 4<br />1. Subject to the exceptions in Sections 7-14 of this Act, any person may ask to see<br />documents received or issued by an administrative authority in the course of its activity.<br />An administrative authority may allow wider access to documents unless this is<br />prohibited under the rules on secrecy, etc.<br />2. Subject to the exceptions in Sections 7-11 and 14 of this Act, any person whose<br />personal circumstances are referred to in a document may ask to see such references.<br />This right shall not apply where the considerations referred to in Section 13 or<br />consideration for the person requesting disclosure or for others are of overriding<br />importance.<br />3. Any request made under the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall specify the<br />documents or case in which the person requesting access is interested.<br />Section 5<br />1. The right of access to administrative documents shall apply to<br />1) all documents relating to the matter in question, including duplicate copies of<br />letters issued by the authority concerned, provided that such letters can be assumed<br />to have reached the addressee; and<br />2) entries in journals, registers, and other lists relating to the documents on the<br />matter in question.<br />2. The right of access to administrative documents shall not apply to registers or other<br />systematic records processed electronically, with the exception of the records referred to<br />in point 2 of paragraph 1.<br />3. The minister concerned may stipulate that the public shall have access to information<br />stored in electronic databases etc. to which the Danish Public Authorities' Registers Act<br />does not apply. The Order may stipulate the fees payable.<br />Duty to make notes etc.<br />Section 6<br />1. Any authority receiving verbal information on the facts of a case to be decided by an<br />administrative authority which could affect the outcome of the case, or learning of such<br />information in another way, shall recorded the substance of the information. This shall<br />not apply if the information is already contained in the case documents.<br />2. The Minister for Justice may lay down rules for certain fields of administration<br />regarding the keeping, etc. of reports prepared or received electronically.<br />3. After consulting with the Minister for Justice, the minister concerned may lay down<br />rules on the duty to make notes for specific groups of cases concerning the exercise of<br />administrative activity other than that referred to in paragraph 1.<br />Chapter 3<br />Exceptions to the right of access to administrative documents<br />Case documents subject to exemption<br />Section 7<br />1. The right of access to files shall not apply to an authority's internal working<br />documents. Internal working documents shall include<br />1) any document prepared by an authority for its own use;<br />2) correspondence between units within the same authority, and<br />3) correspondence between a local council and its committees, departments and<br />other bodies, or between those bodies.<br />Section 8<br />Notwithstanding Section 7, the right of access to files shall include internal working<br />documents in their final form if<br />1) the documents contain only the substance of the authority's final decision on the<br />outcome of a case;<br />2) the documents contain only information that the authority had a duty to record<br />pursuant to Section 6;<br />3) the documents are self-contained instruments drawn up by an authority to provide<br />proof or clarity concerning the actual facts of a case, or<br />4) the documents contain general guidelines for the consideration of certain types of<br />cases.<br />Section 9<br />1. Notwithstanding Section 7, any person whose health is the subject of a hospital case<br />record shall be entitled to have access to that record.<br />2. The right of access may, however, be limited to the extent it is considered appropriate<br />that the person's interest in access should give way to overriding considerations for the<br />person himself or for other private interests.<br />Other documents subject to exemption<br />Section 10<br />The right of access to files shall not apply to:<br />1) records of meetings of the Council of State, minutes of meetings of ministers and<br />documents prepared by an authority for use at such meetings;<br />2) correspondence between ministries on legislation, including appropriation acts;<br />3) documents drawn up in connection with considering proposals for decisions to be<br />taken by the European Community or to do with the interpretation of or compliance<br />with EC rules;<br />4) documents exchanged in connection with one authority acting as a secretariat for<br />another authority;<br />5) correspondence between authorities and outside experts for use in court<br />proceedings or in deliberations on possible legal proceedings;<br />6) material gathered as a basis for compiling public statistics or scientific research.<br />Disclosure of factual information<br />Section 11<br />1. Where factual information, in documents covered by Section 7 and points 1-5 of<br />Section 10 is of material importance to the case in question, the information shall,<br />notwithstanding those provisions, be disclosed pursuant to the general provisions of this<br />Act.<br />2. After consulting with the Minister for Justice, the minister concerned may stipulate<br />that the obligation under paragraph 1 shall not apply to specific groups of cases on the<br />performance of actual administrative activities.<br />Information subject to exemption<br />Section 12<br />1. The right of access to administrative documents shall not apply to<br />1) information on an individual’s private or financial circumstances;<br />2) information on technical devices or processes or on business or operating<br />procedures and policies or the like, to the extent that it is of significant financial<br />importance to the person or enterprise concerned that the request be refused.<br />2. Where paragraph 1 applies only to part of a document, the party requesting access<br />shall be allowed to see the remaining contents of the document.<br />Section 13<br />1. The right of access to documents may be limited to the extent necessary to protect<br />considerations for<br />1) State security and the defence of the realm;<br />2) Danish foreign policy and Danish external economic interests, including relations<br />with foreign powers and international institutions;<br />3) preventing and investigating any infringement of the law, prosecuting offenders,<br />executing sentences and protecting the defendant, witnesses and others in criminal<br />or disciplinary prosecutions;<br />4) carrying out public supervisory, regulatory and planning activities and measures<br />planned under tax law;<br />5) protecting public financial interests, including interests relating to public<br />commercial activities, and<br />6) protecting private and public interests where the special nature of the matter<br />means that secrecy is required.<br />2. Where the considerations mentioned in paragraph 1 apply only to part of a document,<br />the party requesting access shall be allowed to see the remaining contents of the<br />document.<br />Relationship to the obligation to maintain secrecy<br />Section 14<br />The obligation to disclose information shall be limited by special provisions on the<br />obligation to maintain secrecy laid down by law or pursuant to laws applicable to persons<br />employed as public servants or elected to public office. It shall not apply with regard to<br />the ordinary obligation to maintain secrecy under the Danish Criminal Code, the Danish<br />Public Administration Act and civil service legislation.<br />Chapter 4<br />Considering and deciding on requests for access to administration files<br />Section 15<br />1. Where a request is made for access to documents on a case in which a decision has<br />been or will be made by an administrative authority, that authority shall decide whether<br />to grant the request or not. In other cases, the decision whether to grant access to<br />documents shall fall to the administrative authority holding the document.<br />2. Appeals against decisions in respect of requests for access to documents may be<br />submitted to the authority designated as the appeals authority for the decision or for the<br />general handling of the case to which the request relates.<br />3. The minister concerned may lay down rules derogating from paragraphs 1 and 2.<br />Section 16<br />1. The authority concerned shall decide as soon as possible whether to grant a request ,<br />and whether the person requesting access shall be given access to the documents on site,<br />or sent a transcript or office copy.<br />2. If an application has not been granted or rejected within ten days of its receipt by the<br />authority concerned, the authority shall inform the applicant of the reasons for this and<br />also of the date when a decision can be expected.<br />3. The Minister for Justice shall lay down rules on the fees payable for transcripts and<br />office copies.<br />Chapter 5<br />Entry into force, relationship to other legislation, etc.<br />Section 17<br />1. This Act shall enter into force on l January 1987.<br />2. Act No 280 of 10 June 1970 on access to public administrative documents shall be<br />repealed.<br />3. This Act shall not apply to documents drafted or received by an administrative<br />authority before l January 1971. However, factual information contained in such<br />documents shall be subject to the right of access to documents under this Act if the<br />documents have been included in a case that has been or is being considered by an<br />administrative authority after that date and if the information is or has been of material<br />importance in deciding the case. Section 8(4) shall apply to documents used after this Act<br />enters into force. Section 9 shall apply to hospital records set up after this Act enters into<br />force and for additions to existing records made after the entry into force. Access to<br />public documents in accordance with Section 1(2) shall not apply to documents drafted<br />or received by the companies, institutions, associations, etc. mentioned in the provision<br />prior to the entry into force of this Act.<br />4. Provisions in other laws on access to documents held by public administrative<br />authorities shall be retained, irrespective of whether they give more limited access to<br />documents than that provided under this Act.<br />Section 18<br />This Act shall not apply to cases relating to matters in the Faeroes or Greenland but may<br />be applied to such cases by Royal Decree with the derogations required by the special<br />circumstances in the Faeroes and Greenland. However, this shall apply only to cases that<br />are or have been considered by National Government Authorities.<br />Given at Amalienborg Palace, 19 December 1985<br />Under Our Royal Hand and Seal,<br />MARGRETHE R.<br />/Erik Ninn-Hansen</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-20761547897670997302011-04-26T06:51:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:37.757-05:00The Access to Information Act, 2005 - Uganda<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005.<br />_______________<br />ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS.<br />Section<br />PART I - PRELIMINARY.<br />1. Short title and commencement.<br />2. Application.<br />3. Purpose of Act<br />4. Interpretation.<br />PART II – ACCESS TO RECORDS AND INFORMATION.<br />5. Right of access.<br />6. Access to information and records.<br />7. Manual of functions and index of records of public body.<br />8. Disclosure and automatic availability of certain records.<br />9. Information in directory.<br />10. Information officers.<br />11. Form of request.<br />12. Duty to assist persons.<br />13. Transfer of request.<br />14. Records that cannot be found or do not exist.<br />15. Deferral of access.<br />16. Decision on request and notice.<br />17. Extension of period to deal with request.<br />18. Deemed refusal of request.<br />19. Severability.<br />20. Access and forms of access.<br />21. Access to health or other records.<br />22. Preservation of records.<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />3<br />PART III – EXEMPTION FROM ACCESS.<br />23. Interpretation.<br />24. Access subject to conditions.<br />25. Cabinet Minutes and those of its Committees.<br />26. Protection of information relating to privacy of the person.<br />27. Protection of commercial information of third party.<br />28. Protection of certain confidential information.<br />29. Protection of safety of persons and property.<br />30. Protection of law enforcement and legal proceedings.<br />31. Protection of records privileged from production in legal proceedings.<br />32. Defence, security and international relations.<br />33. Operations of public bodies.<br />34. Mandatory disclosure in public interest.<br />PART IV – THIRD PARTY INTERVENTION.<br />35. Notice to third parties.<br />36. Representation by third party.<br />PART V– COMPLAINT AND APPEALS.<br />37. Complaints to Chief Magistrate.<br />38. Appeal to court.<br />39. Procedure.<br />40. Disclosure of records by court.<br />41. Civil proceedings<br />42. Decision of court.<br />PART VI – MISCELLANEOUS.<br />43. Annual report.<br />44. Protection of persons releasing information.<br />45. Protection of officers.<br />46. Offences.<br />47. Regulations.<br />48. Power of Minister to amend Schedule.<br />SCHEDULE<br />CURRENCY POINT.<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />4<br />THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005.<br />An Act to provide for the right of access to information pursuant to article 41 of the<br />Constitution; to prescribe the classes of information referred to in that article; the<br />procedure for obtaining access to that information, and for related matters.<br />DATE OF ASSENT: 7th July, 2005<br />Date of Commencement: See section 1(2) and (3)<br />BE IT ENACTED by Parliament as follows:<br />PART I – PRELIMINARY.<br />1. Short title and commencement.<br />(1) This Act may be cited as the Access to Information Act, 2005.<br />(2) This Act shall come into force on a day to be appointed by the Minister by statutory<br />instrument and different days may be appointed for the commencement of different<br />provisions.<br />(3) The Minister shall in any case ensure that the whole of the Act comes into force<br />within the current financial year.<br />2. Application.<br />(1) This Act applies to all information and records of Government ministries,<br />departments, local governments, statutory corporations and bodies, commissions and<br />other Government organs and agencies, unless specifically exempted by this Act.<br />(2) This Act does not apply to -<br />(a) Cabinet records and those of its committees;<br />(b) records of court proceedings before the conclusion of the case; or<br />(3) Nothing in this Act detracts from the provisions of any other written law giving a<br />right of access to the record of a public body.<br />3. Purpose of Act.<br />The purpose of this Act is –<br />(a) to promote an efficient, effective, transparent and accountable Government;<br />(b) to give effect to article 41 of the Constitution by providing the right of access to<br />information held by organs of the State, other than exempt records and information;<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />5<br />(c) to protect persons disclosing evidence of contravention of the law, maladministration or<br />corruption in Government bodies;<br />(d) to promote transparency and accountability in all organs of the State by providing the<br />public with timely, accessible and accurate information; and<br />(e) to empower the public to effectively scrutinise and participate in Government decisions<br />that affect them.<br />4. Interpretation.<br />In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires –<br />"court" means the Chief Magistrates’ Court or the High Court;<br />"currency point" means the value specified in relation to a currency point in the<br />Schedule;<br />"information" includes written, visual, aural and electronic information;<br />"information officer" means the Chief executive of a public body;<br />"manual" means the manual of functions of, and index of records held by a public body,<br />compiled under section 7;<br />"Minister" means the Minister to whom the functions of the Minister under this Act have<br />for the time being been assigned by the President;<br />"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made under section 47;<br />"privacy" means the right of a person to keep his or her matters and relationships secret;<br />"proprietary information" means information relating to any manufacturing process,<br />trade secret, trademark, copyright, patent or formula protected by law or by<br />International Treaty to which Uganda is a party;<br />"public body" includes a government, ministry, department, statutory corporation,<br />authority or commission;<br />"record" means any recorded information, in any format, including an electronic format<br />in the possession or control of a public body, whether or not that body created it;<br />"relevant authority" means the Minister responsible for that public body or the person<br />designated in writing by that Minister;<br />"request for access" means a request for access to a record of a public body under section<br />11;<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />6<br />"Rules Committee" means the Rules Committee established by section 40 of the<br />Judicature Act;<br />"security" means the protection of Uganda against threats such as crime, criminals and<br />attacks by foreign countries;<br />"sovereignty" means the supremacy of the state;<br />"third party" in relation to a request for access, means any person, including but not<br />limited, to the government of a foreign state, an international organisation or an organ<br />of that government or organisation, other than -<br />(a) the person requesting the record; and<br />(b) a public body.<br />PART II – ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND RECORDS.<br />5. Right of access.<br />(1) Every citizen has a right of access to information and records in the possession of the<br />State or any public body, except where the release of the information is likely to prejudice the<br />security or sovereignty of the State or interfere with the right to the privacy of any other<br />person.<br />(2) For the avoidance of doubt, information and records to which a person is entitled to<br />have access under this Act shall be accurate and upto date so far as is practicable.<br />6. Access to information and records.<br />A person’s right of access is, subject to this Act, not affected by –<br />(a) any reason the person gives for requesting access; or<br />(b) the information officer’s belief as to what the person’s reasons are for requesting<br />access.<br />7. Manual of functions and index of records of public body.<br />(1) Within six months after the commencement of this section or the coming into<br />existence of a public body, the information officer of the public body shall compile a<br />manual containing -<br />(a) a description of the public body and the functions of the public body;<br />(b) the postal and street address, phone and fax number and electronic mail address of<br />the information officer of the body and of every deputy information officer;<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />7<br />(c) the address of the established office of the public body at which the public may<br />make requests and obtain information;<br />(d) sufficient detail, including the nature of all formal and informal procedures<br />available to facilitate a request for access;<br />(e) a description of the subjects on which the body holds records and the categories of<br />records held on each subject;<br />(f) the most recent notice published under section 8, if any, regarding the categories of<br />records of the body which are available without a person having to request<br />access under this Act;<br />(g) a description of the services available to members of the public from the body and<br />how to gain access to those services;<br />(h) a description of any arrangement or provision for a person by consultation, making<br />representations or otherwise, to participate in or influence -<br />(i) the formulation of policy; or<br />(ii) the exercise of the powers or performance of duties, by the body;<br />(i) a description of all remedies available in respect of an act or a failure to act by the<br />body; and<br />(j) such other information as may be prescribed.<br />(2) A public body shall update and publish its manual at least once in every two years.<br />(3) Each manual shall be made available as prescribed.<br />8. Disclosure and automatic availability of certain records.<br />An information officer shall, once in every two years, publish a description of -<br />(a) the categories of records of the public body that are automatically available<br />without a person having to request access under this Act, including the categories<br />available –<br />(i) for inspection under a written law other than this Act;<br />(ii) for purchase or copying from the public body; and<br />(iii)from the public body free of charge; and<br />(b) how to obtain access to those records.<br />9. Information in directory.<br />The Minister shall ensure the publication in every directory issued for general use by the<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />8<br />public, of the postal and street address, phone and fax number and electronic mail address of<br />the information officer of every public body.<br />10. Information officers<br />For the purposes of this Act, the Chief Executive of each public body shall be responsible for<br />ensuring that records of the public body are accessible under this Act.<br />11. Form of request.<br />(1) A request for access to a record or information shall be in writing in the prescribed<br />form to the information officer of the public body in control of the record or<br />information required and shall provide sufficient details to enable an experienced<br />employee of the body to identify the record or information.<br />(2) The form for a request of access prescribed under subsection (1) shall require the<br />person requesting access -<br />(a) to provide sufficient particulars to enable the information officer to identify -<br />(i) the record or records requested; and<br />(ii) the person requesting the information;<br />(b) to indicate which applicable form of access referred to in section 20(2) is required;<br />(c) to specify the address of the person requesting the information; and<br />(d) if the request is made on behalf of a person, to state the capacity in which the<br />person requesting the information is making the request.<br />(3) A person who, because of illiteracy or disability is unable to make a request<br />for access in accordance with subsection (1) may make that request orally.<br />(4) The information officer of a public body to whom an oral request is made under<br />subsection (3) shall reduce the request to writing in the prescribed form and shall<br />provide a copy of the written request to the person requesting access.<br />12. Duty to assist persons<br />(1) Where a person informs the information officer -<br />(a) that he or she wishes to make a request for access to a record of the public body of<br />that information officer; or<br />(b) that he or she wishes to make a request for access to a record of another public<br />body, the information officer shall render such reasonable assistance, free of<br />charge, as is necessary to enable that person to comply with section 11.<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />9<br />(2) Where a person makes a request for access that does not comply with section 11,<br />the information officer shall not refuse the request because of that non-compliance<br />unless the information officer has –<br />(a) notified that person of an intention to refuse the request and stated in<br />the notice –<br />(i) the reasons for the contemplated refusal; and<br />(ii) that the information officer or other official identified by the information<br />officer would assist that person in order to make the request in a form that<br />would remove the reasons for refusal;<br />(b) given the person a reasonable opportunity to seek the assistance referred to in<br />paragraph (a)(ii);<br />(c) as far as reasonably possible, furnished the person requesting access with any<br />information, including information about the records, other than information under<br />Part III that would assist the making of the request in that form; and<br />(c) given the person a reasonable opportunity to confirm the request or to alter it to<br />comply with section 11.<br />(3) When computing any period referred to in section 15(1), the period commencing on<br />the date on which notice is given under subsection (2) and ending on the date on which<br />the person confirms or alters the request for access concerned shall be disregarded.<br />(4) Where it is apparent, on receipt of a request for access, that the request should<br />have been made to another public body, the information officer of the public<br />body receiving the request shall -<br />(a) render any assistance necessary to enable the person requesting access to make<br />the request to the information officer of the appropriate public body; or<br />(b) transfer the request in accordance with section 13, to the appropriate information<br />officer,<br />whichever will result in the request being dealt with sooner.<br />13. Transfer of request.<br />(1) Where a request for access is made to the information officer of a public body in<br />respect of which -<br />(a) the record is not in the possession or under the control of that body but is in the<br />possession of another public body; or<br />(b) the subject matter of the record is more closely connected with the functions of<br />another public body than those of the public body of the information officer to<br />whom the request is made,<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />10<br />]<br />the information officer to whom the request is made shall, as soon as reasonably<br />possible but in any event within twenty one days after the request is received -<br />(i) transfer the request to the information officer of the other public body; and<br />(ii) if the public body of the information officer to whom the request is made is in<br />possession of the record and considers it is helpful to do so to enable the<br />information officer of the other public body to deal with the request, send the<br />record or a copy of the record to that information officer.<br />(2) Upon the transfer of a request for access, the information officer making the transfer<br />shall immediately notify the person requesting access of -<br />(a) the transfer;<br />(b) the reasons for the transfer; and<br />(c) the period within which the request shall be dealt with.<br />14. Records that cannot be found or do not exist.<br />(1) Where a request for access is made to the information officer of a public body in<br />respect of which -<br />(a) the record is not in the possession or under the control of the public body of that<br />information officer and the information officer does not know which public body has<br />possession or control of the record; or<br />(b) all reasonable steps have been taken to find the record requested; and<br />(c) there are reasonable grounds for believing that the record -<br />(i) is in the possession of the public body but cannot be found; or<br />(ii) does not exist,<br />the information officer shall, in writing, notify the person that it is not possible to give<br />access to that record.<br />(2) The notice referred to in subsection (1) shall give a full account of all steps taken to<br />find the record in question or to determine whether the record exists, as the case may be,<br />including all communications with every person who conducted the search on behalf of<br />the information officer.<br />(3) For the purposes of this Act, the notice under subsection (1) is to be regarded as a<br />decision to refuse a request for access to the record.<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />11<br />(4) Where, after notice is given under subsection (1), the record in question is found, the<br />person requesting access shall be given access to the record unless access is refused on a<br />ground for refusal under Part III.<br />15. Deferral of access.<br />(1) Where the information officer determines that access may be granted to a record, but<br />that record -<br />(a) is to be published within ninety days after the receipt or transfer of the request or<br />such further period as is reasonably necessary for printing the record for the<br />purpose of publishing it;<br />(b) is required by law to be published but is yet to be published; or<br />(c) has been prepared for submission to a public body, public officer or a particular<br />person but is yet to be submitted,<br />the information officer my defer giving access to the record.<br />(2) Where access to a record is deferred under subsection (l), the information officer shall<br />notify the person concerned -<br />(a) that he or she may, within twenty one days after that notice is given, make<br />representations to the information officer why the record is required before the<br />publication or submission; and<br />(b) of the likely period for which access is to be deferred.<br />(3) Where a person makes representation under subsection (2)(a), the information officer<br />shall, after due consideration of those representations, grant the request for access only if<br />there are reasonable grounds for believing that the person will suffer substantial prejudice if<br />access to the record is deferred for the period referred to in subsection (2)(b).<br />16. Decision on request and notice<br />(1) The information officer to whom a request for access is made or transferred shall,<br />subject to section 17, as soon as reasonably possible, be in any event, within twenty one days<br />after the request is received -<br />(a) determine in accordance with this Act, whether to grant the request; and<br />(b) notify the person requesting the access of the decision and, if the person stated as<br />required by section 11(2)(b), that he or she wishes to be informed of the decision<br />in any other manner, inform him or her in that manner if it is reasonable possible.<br />(2) Where the request for access is granted, the notice under subsection (1)(b) shall state–<br />(a) the fee, if any, to be paid upon access;<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />12<br />(b) the form in which the access will be given; and<br />(c) that the person requesting access may lodge an internal appeal or an application<br />with the court, as the case may be, against the access fee to be paid or the form of<br />access granted and the procedure, including the period, for lodging the internal<br />application or appeal, as the case may be.<br />(3) Where the request for access is refused, the notice under subsection (1)(b) shall-<br />(a) state adequate reasons for the refusal, including the provisions of this Act relied<br />upon;<br />(b) exclude from any reasons stated under paragraph (a), any reference to the content<br />of the record; and<br />(c) state that the person may lodge an internal appeal or an application with the Court,<br />as the case may be, against the refusal of the request and the procedure, including<br />the period, for lodging the internal application or appeal as the case may be.<br />17. Extension of period to deal with request.<br />(1) The information officer to whom a request for access has been made or transferred,<br />may extend the period of twenty one days referred to in section 16(1), in this section<br />referred to as the "original period", once for a further period of not more than twenty one<br />days, if -<br />(a) the request is for a large number of records or requires a search through a large<br />number of records and compliance with the original period would unreasonably<br />interfere with the activities of the public body concerned;<br />(b) the request requires a search for records in, or collection of the records from, an<br />office of the public body not situated in the same city, town or location as the<br />office of the information officer that cannot reasonably be completed within the<br />original period;<br />(c) more than one of the circumstances contemplated in paragraphs (a) and (b) exist in<br />respect of the request, making compliance with the original period not reasonably<br />possible; or<br />(d) the person requesting for the record consents in writing to the extension.<br />(2) Where a period is extended under subsection (1), the information officer shall, as<br />soon as reasonably possible, but in any case within twenty one days, after the request is<br />received or transferred, notify the person requesting the record of the extension.<br />(3) A notice given under subsection (2) shall state -<br />(a) the period of the extension;<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />13<br />(c) adequate reasons for the extension, including the provisions of this Act relied<br />upon; and<br />(c) that the person may lodge an internal appeal or an application with a court, as the<br />case may be, against the extension, and the procedure, including the period, for<br />lodging the internal appeal or application, as the case may be.<br />18. Deemed refusal of request.<br />Where an information officer fails to give the decision on a request for access to the person<br />concerned within the period contemplated under section 16, the information officer is, for the<br />purposes of this Act, regarded as having refused the request.<br />19. Severability<br />(1) Where a request for access is made for a record containing information which is<br />required or authorized or to be refused under Part III, then every part or the record, which<br />does not contain any such information shall be disclosed notwithstanding any other<br />provision of this Act.<br />(2) Where a request for access to -<br />(a) a part of a record is granted; and<br />(b) the other part of the record is refused,<br />in accordance with subsection (1), section 16(2), applies to paragraph (a) of this<br />subsection and section 16(3) to paragraph (b) of this subsection.<br />20. Access and forms of access.<br />(1) Where a person has been notified under section 16(1) that the request for access has<br />been granted, that person shall, subject to subsections (3) and (10) –<br />(a) where an access fee is payable, upon payment of that fee; or<br />(b) where no access fee is payable, immediately,<br />be given access in the applicable forms referred to in subsection (2) as the person<br />indicated in the request for access.<br />(2) The forms of access to a record in respect of which a request of access has been<br />granted are -<br />(a) if the record is in written or printed form, by supplying a copy of the record or by<br />making arrangements for the inspection of the record;<br />(b) if the record is not in written or printed form -<br />(i) in the case of a record from which visual images or printed transcriptions of<br />those images are capable of being reproduced by means of equipment which<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />14<br />is ordinarily available to the public body concerned, by making arrangements<br />to view those images or be supplied with copies or transcriptions of them;<br />(ii) in the case of a record in which words or information are recorded in a manner<br />that they are capable of being reproduced in the form of sound by equipment<br />which is ordinarily available to the public body concerned –<br />(aa) by making arrangements to hear those sounds; or<br />(ab) if the public body is capable of producing a written or printed transcription<br />of those sounds by the use of equipment which is ordinarily available to it,<br />by supplying that transcription;<br />(iii)in the case of a record which is held on computer, or in electronic or machinereadable<br />form, and from which the public body concerned is capable of producing<br />a printed copy of -<br />(aa) the record, or a part of it; or<br />(ab) information derived from the record,<br />by using computer equipment and expertise ordinarily available to the public<br />body, by supplying such a copy;<br />(iv) in the case of a record available or capable of being made available in<br />computer readable form, by supplying a copy in that form; or<br />(v) in any other case, by supplying a copy of the record.<br />(3) Where a person has requested access in a particular form, access shall, subject to<br />section 18, be given in that form, unless to do so would -<br />(a) interfere unreasonably with the effective administration of the public body<br />concerned;<br />(b) be detrimental to the preservation of the record; or<br />(c) amount to an infringement of copyright not owned by the State or the public body<br />concerned.<br />(4) Where a person has requested access in a particular form and for a reason referred to<br />in subsection (3), access in that form is refused but access is given in another form, the<br />fee charged may not exceed what would have been charged if the person had been given<br />access in the form requested.<br />(5) Where a person with a disability is prevented by that disability from reading, viewing<br />or listening to the record concerned in the form in which it is held by the public body<br />concerned, the information officer shall, if that person so requests, take reasonable steps<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />15<br />to make the record available in a form in which it is capable of being read, viewed or<br />heard by that person.<br />(6) Where access to a record is to be given to a person with a disability and the person<br />requests that access to be given in an alternative format, a copy of the record shall be<br />given in an alternative format -<br />(a) immediately, if the record exists in the alternative format that is acceptable to that<br />person; or<br />(b) within a reasonable period to allow the public body to prepare or cause to be<br />prepared the alternative format, unless the making of the alternative format is<br />considered outrageously expensive compared to the information required.<br />(7) Where a record is made available in accordance with subsection (5), the person shall<br />not be required to pay an access fee which is more than the fee which that person would<br />have been required to pay, but for the disability.<br />(8) Where a record is made available in terms of this section to a person for inspection,<br />viewing or hearing, that person may make copies of, or transcribe the record using his or<br />her equipment, unless to do so would—<br />(a) interfere unreasonably with the effective administration of the public body<br />concerned;<br />(b) be detrimental to the preservation of the record; or<br />(c) amount to an infringement of copyright not owned by the State or the public body<br />concerned.<br />(9) Where this section requires the supply to a person of a copy of a record, the copy<br />shall, if so requested by that person, be supplied by posting it to that person.<br />(10) Where an internal appeal or an application to the court, as the case may be, is lodged<br />against the granting of a request for access to a record, access to the record may be given<br />only when the decision to grant the request is finally confirmed.<br />21. Access to health or other records.<br />An information officer shall refuse access to health records, the disclosure of which would<br />constitute an invasion of personal privacy.<br />22. Preservation of records.<br />Where the information officer receives a request for access to records or information, he or<br />she shall ensure that the records or information concerned are properly preserved until the<br />request is met and where there is an appeal, until all the procedures for appeal are exhausted.<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />16<br />PART III - EXEMPTION FROM ACCESS<br />23. Interpretation.<br />A provision of this Part under which a request for access to a record shall or may or may not<br />be refused, may not be construed as -<br />(a) limited in its application in any other such provision of this Part in terms of which a<br />request for access to a record shall or may or may not be refused; and<br />(b) not applying to a particular record by reason that another provision of this Part also<br />applies to that record.<br />24. Access subject to conditions<br />(1) a person is entitled to access information or a record of a public body if that person<br />complies with all the requirements of this Act relating to a request for access to that<br />information or record; and access to that information or record is not prohibited by this<br />Part.<br />(2) A request made under subsection (1) may be for information or records containing<br />personal information relating to the person requesting the information.<br />25. Cabinet Minutes and those of its Committees<br />(1) Subject to subsection (2), cabinet minutes shall not be accessible to any person other<br />than an authorized public officer.<br />(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Minister may, from time to time by regulations<br />made under section 47, prescribe the categories of records which shall or may be released<br />after the expiration of seven years, fourteen years, and twenty one years respectively after<br />the record came into existence.<br />26. Protection of information relating to privacy of the person.<br />(1) Subject to subsection (2), an information officer may refuse a request for access if its<br />disclosure would involve the unreasonable disclosure of personal information about a<br />person, including a deceased individual.<br />(3) A person may be granted access to a record referred to in subsection (1) in so far as<br />the record consists of information -<br />(a) about a person who has consented in writing to its disclosure to the person<br />requesting the record;<br />(b) that was given to the public body by the person to whom it relates and the person<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />17<br />was informed by or on behalf of the public body, before it is given, that the<br />information belongs to a class of information that would or might be made<br />available to the public;<br />(c) already publicly available;<br />(d) about a person who is deceased and the person requesting the information is -<br />(i) the person's next of kin; or<br />(ii) making the request with the written consent of the person's next of kin; or<br />(e) about a person who is or was an official of a public body and which relates to the<br />position or functions of the person, including, but not limited to -<br />(i) the fact that the person is or was an official of that public body;<br />(ii) the title, work address, work phone number and other similar particulars of the<br />person;<br />(iii) the classification, salary scale or remuneration and responsibilities of the<br />position held or services performed by the person; and<br />(iv) the name of the person on a record prepared by the person in the course of<br />employment.<br />27. Protection of commercial information of third party.<br />(1) Subject to subsection (2), the information officer shall refuse a request for access to a<br />record if the record contains -<br />(a) proprietary information as defined in section 4;<br />(b) scientific or technical information, the disclosure of which is likely to cause harm<br />to the interests or proper functioning of the public body; or<br />(c) information supplied in confidence by a third party, the disclosure of which could<br />reasonably be expected -<br />(i) to put that third party at a disadvantage in contractual or commercial<br />negotiations; or<br />(ii) to prejudice that third party in commercial competition.<br />(2) A record may not be refused under subsection (1) insofar as it consists of<br />information -<br />(a) already publicly available;<br />(b) about a third party who has consented in writing to its disclosure to the person<br />requesting for it; or<br />(c) about the results of any product, environmental or other investigation supplied<br />to or by, or carried out by or on behalf of a public body and its disclosure<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />18<br />would reveal a serious public safety, public health or environmental risk.<br />28. Protection of certain confidential information.<br />(1) Subject to subsection (2), an information officer -<br />(a) shall refuse a request for access if the disclosure of the record would constitute an<br />action for breach of a duty of confidence owed to a third party in terms of an<br />agreement; or<br />(b) may refuse a request for access to a record of the body if the record consists of<br />information that was supplied in confidence by a third party -<br />(i) the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to prejudice the future<br />supply of similar information, or information from the same source; and<br />(ii) if it is in the public interest that similar information, or information from the<br />same source, should continue to be supplied.<br />(2) A record may not be refused under subsection (1) insofar as it consists of information-<br />(a) already publicly available; or<br />(b) about the third party concerned that has consented in writing to its disclosure to the<br />person requesting it.<br />29. Protection of safety of persons and property.<br />An information officer -<br />(a) shall refuse a request for access if the disclosure of the record could reasonably be<br />expected to endanger the life or physical safety of a person; or<br />(b) may refuse a request for access to a record of the body if the disclosure of the record<br />is likely to prejudice or impair -<br />(i) the security of –<br />(aa) a building, structure or system, including, but not limited to a computer or<br />communication system;<br />(bb) a means of transport; or<br />(cc) any other property; or<br />(ii) methods, systems, plans or procedures for the protection of -<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />19<br />(aa) a person in accordance with a witness protection scheme;<br />(bb) the safety of the public or any part of the public;<br />(cc) the security of property referred to in subparagraph (b)(i).<br />30. Protection of law enforcement and legal proceedings.<br />(1) An information officer -<br />(a) shall refuse a request for access to a record if access to that record would deprive a<br />person of a right to a fair trial;<br />(b) may refuse a request for access if -<br />(i) the record contains methods, techniques, procedures or guidelines for –<br />(aa) the prevention, detection, curtailment or investigation of a contravention<br />or possible contravention of the law; or<br />(bb) the prosecution of alleged offenders, and the disclosure of those methods,<br />techniques, procedures or guidelines could reasonably be expected to<br />prejudice the effectiveness of those methods, techniques, procedures or<br />guidelines, or lead to the circumvention of the law or facilitate the<br />commission of an offence;<br />(ii) the prosecution of an alleged offender is being prepared or about to commence<br />or pending and the disclosure of the record could reasonably be expected -<br />(aa) to impede that prosecution; or<br />(bb) to result in a miscarriage of justice in that prosecution; or<br />(iii) the disclosure of the record is likely to -<br />(aa) prejudice the investigation of a contravention or possible contravention of<br />the law which is about to commence or is in progress or, if it has been<br />suspended or terminated, is likely to be resumed;<br />(bb) reveal, or enable a person to ascertain, the identity of a confidential source<br />of information in relation to the enforcement or administration of the law;<br />(cc) result in the intimidation or coercion of a witness, or a person who might<br />be or has been called as a witness, in criminal proceedings or other<br />proceedings to enforce the law;<br />(dd) facilitate the commission of a contravention of the law, including, but not<br />limited to, subject to subsection (2), escape from lawful detention; or<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />20<br />(ee) prejudice or impair the fairness of a trial or the impartiality of an<br />adjudication.<br />(2) A record may not be refused under subsection (l)(b)(iii)(dd) insofar as it consists of<br />information about the general conditions of detention of persons in custody.<br />31. Protection of records privileged from production in legal proceedings.<br />An information officer shall refuse a request for access if the record is privileged from<br />production in legal proceedings unless the person entitled to the privilege has waived the<br />privilege.<br />32. Defence, security and international relations.<br />(1) An information officer may refuse a request for access to a record of the body if its<br />disclosure-<br />(a) is likely to prejudice the defence, security or sovereignty of Uganda;<br />(b) subject to subsection (3), is likely to prejudice the international relations of<br />Uganda; or<br />(c) would reveal information supplied in confidence by or on behalf of another State<br />or an international organisation.<br />(2) A record may not be refused under subsection (l)(b) if it came into existence more<br />than twenty years before the request.<br />(3) A record contemplated under subsection (1), without limiting the general effect of that<br />subsection, includes a record containing information -<br />(a) relating to military tactics or strategy or military exercise or operations undertaken<br />in preparation of hostilities or in connection with the detection, prevention,<br />suppression or curtailment of subversive or hostile activities;<br />(b) relating to the quality, characteristics, capabilities, vulnerabilities or deployment of<br />-<br />(i) weapons or any other equipment used for the detection, prevention, suppression<br />or curtailment of subversive or hostile activities; or<br />(ii) anything being designed, developed, produced or considered for use as<br />weapons or such other equipment;<br />(c) relating to the characteristics, capabilities, vulnerabilities, performance, potential,<br />deployment or functions of -<br />(i) any military force, unit or personnel; or<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />21<br />(ii) any body or person responsible for the detection, prevention, suppression or<br />curtailment of subversive or hostile activities;<br />(d) held for the purposes of intelligence relating to -<br />(i) the defense of Uganda;<br />(ii) the detection, prevention, suppression or curtailment of subversive<br />or hostile activities; or<br />(iii) another state or an international organisation used by or on behalf<br />of Uganda in the process of deliberation and consultation in the conduct of<br />international affairs;<br />(e) on methods of, and scientific or technical equipment for, collecting, assessing or<br />handling information referred to in paragraph (d),<br />(f) on the identity of a confidential source and any other source of information referred<br />to in paragraph (d);<br />(g) on the positions adopted or to be adopted by Uganda, another state or an<br />international organisation for the purpose of present or future international<br />negotiations; or<br />(h) that constitutes diplomatic correspondence exchanged with another state or an<br />international organisation or official correspondence exchanged with diplomatic<br />missions of Uganda.<br />33. Operations of public bodies.<br />(1) An information officer may refuse a request for access -<br />(a) if the record contains -<br />(i) an opinion, advice, report or recommendation obtained or prepared; or<br />(ii) an account of a consultation, discussion or deliberation that has occurred,<br />including, but limited to, minutes of a meeting, for the purpose of assisting to<br />take a decision in the exercise of a power or performance of a duty conferred<br />or imposed by law; or<br />(b) if the disclosure of the record could reasonably be expected to frustrate the<br />deliberative process in a public body or between public bodies by inhibiting the -<br />(i) communication of an opinion, advice, report or recommendation; or<br />(ii) conduct of a consultation, discussion or deliberation.<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />22<br />(2) A record may not be refused under subsection (1) if the record came into existence<br />more than ten years before the request concerned.<br />34. Mandatory disclosure in public interest.<br />Notwithstanding any other provision in this Part, an information officer shall grant a request<br />for access to a record of the public body otherwise prohibited under this Part if -<br />(a) the disclosure of the record would reveal evidence of -<br />(i) a substantial contravention of, or failure to comply with the law; or<br />(ii) an imminent or serious public safety, public health or environmental risk;<br />and<br />(b) the public interest in the disclosure of the record is greater than the harm<br />contemplated in the provision in question.<br />PART IV - THIRD PARTY INTERVENTION.<br />35. Notice to third parties.<br />(1) Where an information officer intends to disclose any record requested for, that<br />contains or that might contain -<br />(a) trade secrets of a third party;<br />(b) financial, commercial, scientific, or technical information that is confidential<br />information supplied to the public body by the third party;<br />(c) information the disclosure of which could result in material financial loss or gain,<br />prejudice the competitive position of the third party or interfere with contractual<br />or other negotiations of the third party,<br />the information officer shall, if the third party can be located, within twenty one days<br />after the request is received, give written notice to the third party of the request and<br />the intention to disclose the record.<br />(2) The third party to whom a notice is required to be given under subsection (2) may<br />waive the requirement and where the third party consents to the disclosure, the third party<br />shall be deemed to have waived the requirement.<br />(3) A notice given under subsection (1) shall include -<br />(a) the intention of the information officer to release the record;<br />(b) a description of the content of the record, that it belongs to and was supplied by or<br />relates to the third party; and<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />23<br />(c) that the third party may, within twenty days after the notice, make representation<br />as to why the record should not be disclosed.<br />(4) The information officer may extend the period prescribed by subsection (3)(c) if the<br />time limit prescribed by section 17 is extended but the extension under this subsection<br />shall not exceed the extension under section 17.<br />36. Representation by third party.<br />(1) The third party to whom notice is given under section 35 shall make the representation<br />within the period stated in the notice; and the information officer shall, within twenty one<br />days of the notice, make a decision whether or not go give access to the record.<br />(2) The representation made under subsection (1) shall be given in writing unless the<br />information officer provides otherwise.<br />(3) The information officer shall give the third party notice of the decision<br />made under subsection (1) and the notice shall include a statement -<br />(a) that the third a party is entitled to request for a review of the decision; and<br />(b) that the person who requested for access will be given access unless a review is<br />requested.<br />PART V - COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS.<br />37. Complaints to Chief Magistrate<br />A person may lodge a complaint with the Chief Magistrate, against the decision of an<br />information officer -<br />(a) to refuse a request for access; or<br />(b) taken under section 17(1) or 20(3), in relation to that person.<br />38. Appeal to court<br />A person aggrieved by the decision of the Chief Magistrate under section 35, may, within<br />twenty one days after the decision is communicated to him or her, appeal to the High Court<br />against the decision of the Chief Magistrate.<br />39. Procedure<br />The Rules Committee shall, within six months after the commencement of this Act, makes<br />rules of procedure for the courts to regulate the procedure in respect of applications made<br />under sections 35 and 40.<br />40. Disclosure of records by court.<br />(1) Notwithstanding this Act or any other law, a court hearing an appeal against a<br />decision, may examine any record of a public body to which this Act applies, and no such<br />record may be withheld from the court on any grounds except whenever access to<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />24<br />information is expressly prohibited by this Act or any other law.<br />(2) The court may not disclose to any person, including the parties to the proceedings<br />concerned, other than the public body referred to in subsection (1) -<br />(a) any record of a public body which, on a request for access, may have been refused<br />under this Act,<br />(b) if the information officer of a public body or the Inspector General of Government<br />in refusing to grant access to a record refused to confirm or deny the existence or<br />non-existence of the record, any information as to whether the record exists.<br />(3) The court under subsection (1) may -<br />(a) receive representation ex parte;<br />(b) conduct hearings in camera; and<br />(c) prohibit the publication of such information in relation to the proceedings as the<br />court determines, including information in relation to the parties to the<br />proceedings and the contents or orders made by the court in the proceedings.<br />41. Civil proceedings.<br />(1) For the purposes of this Part, proceedings on application are civil proceedings.<br />(2) The rules of evidence applicable in civil proceedings apply to proceedings in an<br />application under this Part.<br />(3) The burden of establishing that -<br />(a) the refusal of a request for access; or<br />(b) any decision taken under this Act complies with the provisions of this<br />Act rests on the party claiming that it complies.<br />42. Decision of court.<br />The court hearing an application under section 37 may, in addition to any other order, grant<br />an order –<br />(a) confirming, amending or setting aside the decision which is the subject of the<br />application concerned;<br />(b) requiring an information officer to grant or deny access to a record of a public body;<br />(c) requiring the information officer or relevant authority of a public body to take such<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />25<br />action or to refrain from taking such action as the court considers necessary within a<br />period mentioned in the order;<br />(d) granting an interim or specific relief, a declaratory order or compensation; or<br />(e) as to costs.<br />PART IV - MISCELLANEOUS.<br />43. Annual report.<br />(1) Each Minister shall submit an annual report to Parliament on requests for access to<br />records or information made to public bodies under his or her ministry in relation to the<br />relevant year, and shall indicate whether access was given or not and if access was not<br />given, state reasons for the denial.<br />(2) For avoidance of doubt, the annual report referred to in subsection (1) may be<br />included in the annual policy statement of the Ministry.<br />44. Protection of persons releasing information<br />(1) No person shall be subject to any legal, administrative or employment-related<br />sanction, regardless of any breach of a legal or employment obligation, for releasing<br />information on wrongdoing, or information which would disclose a serious threat to<br />health, safety or the environment, as long as that person acted in good faith and in the<br />reasonable belief that the information was substantially true and disclosed evidence of<br />wrongdoing or a serious threat to health, safety or the environment.<br />(2) For purposes of subsection (1), wrongdoing includes the commission of a criminal<br />offence, failure to comply with a legal obligation, a miscarriage of justice, corruption or<br />dishonesty, or maladministration regarding a public body.<br />45. Protection of officers.<br />A public officer, information officer or other person acting on the directions of such a person<br />is not subject to any civil or criminal liability for any act done or omitted to be done in good<br />faith in the exercise or performance of any power or duty under this Act.<br />46. Offences.<br />A person who with intent to deny a right of access under this Act -<br />(a) destroys, damages or alters a record;<br />(b) conceals a record; or<br />(c) falsifies a record or makes a false record,<br />commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and forty<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />26<br />currency points or imprisonment not exceeding three year or both.<br />47. Regulations.<br />(1) The Minister may, by statutory instrument, make regulations for -<br />(a) anymatter which is required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed;<br />(b) any matter relating to the fees including the procedures and guidelines for<br />determining when such fees should be waived or reduced;<br />(c) any notice required by this Act;<br />(d) forms for requests and places at which forms may be obtained;<br />(e) uniform criteria to be applied by the information officer when deciding which<br />categories of records are to be made available under section 8; and<br />(f) prescribing the categories of information that an information officer may refuse to<br />grant access to under sections 29,30,32, and 33;<br />(g) any administrative or procedural matter necessary to give effect to this Act.<br />(2) The fee for access to be prescribed by regulations under this section shall be a fee<br />representing the actual cost of retrieval and reproduction of the information.<br />(3) The Minister may prescribe in the regulations for the contravention of any<br />of the regulations, any penalty not exceeding two hundred and forty currency points<br />or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years or both.<br />48. Power of Minister to amend Schedule.<br />The Minister may, by statutory instrument, with the approval of Cabinet, amend the<br />Schedule.<br />SCHEDULE<br />Section 3<br />CURRENCY POINT<br />One currency point is equivalent to twenty thousand Uganda Shillings.<br />Act 6 Access to Information Act 2005<br />27<br />Cross References<br />The Constitution<br />The Judicature Act, Cap 13</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717323857330456426.post-34651302877772902562011-04-26T06:42:00.000-05:002013-05-07T06:03:37.858-05:00Promotion of Access to Information act, 2000 - South Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">PART 1<br />INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS<br />CHAPTER 1<br />DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION<br />Definitions<br />1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates—<br />‘‘access fee’’ means a fee prescribed for the purposes of section 22(6) or 54(6), as<br />the case may be;<br />‘‘application’’ means an application to a court in terms of section 78;<br />‘‘Constitution’’ means the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act<br />No.108 of 1996);<br />‘‘court’’ means—<br />(a) the Constitutional Court acting in terms of section 167(6)(a) of the<br />Constitution; or<br />(b) (i) a High Court or another court of similar status; or<br />(ii) a Magistrate’s Court, either generally or in respect of a specified class of<br />decisions in terms of this Act, designated by the Minister, by notice in the<br />Gazette, and presided over by a magistrate designated in writing by the<br />Minister, after consultation with the Magistrates Commission,<br />within whose area of jurisdiction—<br />(aa) the decision of the information officer or relevant authority of a<br />public body or the head of a private body has been taken;<br />(bb) the public body or private body concerned has its principal place of<br />administration or business; or<br />(cc) the requester or third party concerned is domiciled or ordinarily<br />resident;<br />‘‘evaluative material’’ means an evaluation or opinion prepared for the purpose of<br />determining—<br />(a) the suitability, eligibility or qualifications of the person to whom or which the<br />evaluation or opinion relates—<br />(i) for employment or for appointment to office;<br />(ii) for promotion in employment or office or for continuance in employment<br />or office;<br />(iii) for removal from employment or office; or<br />(iv) for the awarding of a scholarship, award, bursary, honour or similar<br />benefit; or<br />(b) whether any scholarship, award, bursary, honour or similar benefit should be<br />continued, modified, cancelled or renewed;<br />‘‘head’’ of, or in relation to, a private body means—<br />(a) in the case of a natural person, that natural person or any person duly<br />authorised by that natural person;<br />(b) in the case of a partnership, any partner of the partnership or any person duly<br />authorised by the partnership;<br />(c) in the case of a juristic person—<br />(i) the chief executive officer or equivalent officer of the juristic person or<br />any person duly authorised by that officer; or<br />(ii) the person who is acting as such or any person duly authorised by such<br />acting person;<br />‘‘health practitioner’’ means an individual who carries on, and is registered in<br />terms of legislation to carry on, an occupation which involves the provision of care<br />or treatment for the physical or mental health or for the well-being of individuals;<br />‘‘Human Rights Commission’’ means the South African Human Rights Commission referred to in section 181(1)(b) of the Constitution;<br />‘‘individual’s next of kin’’ means—<br />(a) an individual to whom the individual was married immediately before the<br />individual’s death;<br />(b) an individual with whom the individual lived as if they were married<br />immediately before the individual’s death;<br />(c) a parent, child, brother or sister of the individual; or<br />(d) if—<br />6<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55<br />60(i) there is no next of kin referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c); or<br />(ii) the requester concerned took all reasonable steps to locate such next of<br />kin, but was unsuccessful,<br />an individual who is related to the individual in the second degree of affinity<br />or consanguinity;<br />‘‘information officer’’ of, or in relation to, a public body—<br />(a) in the case of a national department, provincial administration or<br />organisational component—<br />(i) mentioned in Column 1 of Schedule 1 or 3 to the Public Service Act,<br />1994 (Proclamation No. 103 of 1994), means the officer who is the<br />incumbent of the post bearing the designation mentioned in Column 2 of<br />the said Schedule 1 or 3 opposite the name of the relevant national<br />department, provincial administration or organisational component or<br />the person who is acting as such; or<br />(ii) not so mentioned, means the Director-General, head, executive director<br />or equivalent officer, respectively, of that national department, provincial<br />administration or organisational component, respectively;<br />(b) in the case of a municipality, means the municipal manager appointed in terms<br />of section 82 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act<br />No.117 of 1998), or the person who is acting as such; or<br />(c) in the case of any other public body, means the chief executive officer, or<br />equivalent officer, of that public body or the person who is acting as such;<br />‘‘internal appeal’’ means an internal appeal to the relevant authority in terms of<br />section 74;<br />‘‘international organisation’’ means an international organisation—<br />(a) of states; or<br />(b) established by the governments of states;<br />‘‘Minister’’ means the Cabinet member responsible for the administration of<br />justice;<br />‘‘notice’’ means notice in writing, and ‘‘notify’’ and ‘‘notified’’ have corresponding<br />meanings;<br />‘‘objects of this Act’’ means the objects of this Act referred to in section 9;<br />‘‘official’’, in relation to a public or private body, means—<br />(a) any person in the employ (permanently or temporarily and full-time or<br />part-time) of the public or private body, as the case may be, including the head<br />of the body, in his or her capacity as such; or<br />(b) a member of the public or private body, in his or her capacity as such;<br />‘‘person’’ means a natural person or a juristic person;<br />‘‘personal information’’ means information about an identifiable individual,<br />including, but not limited to—<br />(a) information relating to the race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status,<br />national, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, physical or<br />mental health, well-being, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture,<br />language and birth of the individual;<br />(b) information relating to the education or the medical, criminal or employment<br />history of the individual or information relating to financial transactions in<br />which the individual has been involved;<br />(c) any identifying number, symbol or other particular assigned to the individual;<br />(d) the address, fingerprints or blood type of the individual;<br />(e) the personal opinions, views or preferences of the individual, except where<br />they are about another individual or about a proposal for a grant, an award or<br />a prize to be made to another individual;<br />(f) correspondence sent by the individual that is implicitly or explicitly of a<br />private or confidential nature or further correspondence that would reveal the<br />contents of the original correspondence;<br />(g) the views or opinions of another individual about the individual;<br />(h) the views or opinions of another individual about a proposal for a grant, an<br />award or a prize to be made to the individual, but excluding the name of the<br />other individual where it appears with the views or opinions of the other<br />individual; and<br />(i) the name of the individual where it appears with other personal information<br />relating to the individual or where the disclosure of the name itself would<br />reveal information about the individual,<br />7<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55<br />60but excludes information about an individual who has been dead for more than 20<br />years;<br />‘‘personal requester’’ means a requester seeking access to a record containing<br />personal information about the requester;<br />‘‘prescribed’’ means prescribed by regulation in terms of section 92;<br />‘‘private body’’ means—<br />(a) a natural person who carries or has carried on any trade, business or<br />profession, but only in such capacity;<br />(b) a partnership which carries or has carried on any trade, business or profession;<br />or<br />(c) any former or existing juristic person,<br />but excludes a public body;<br />‘‘public safety or environmental risk’’ means harm or risk to the environment or<br />the public (including individuals in their workplace) associated with—<br />(a) a product or service which is available to the public;<br />(b) a substance released into the environment, including, but not limited to, the<br />workplace;<br />(c) a substance intended for human or animal consumption;<br />(d) a means of public transport; or<br />(e) an installation or manufacturing process or substance which is used in that<br />installation or process;<br />‘‘public body’’ means—<br />(a) any department of state or administration in the national or provincial sphere<br />of government or any municipality in the local sphere of government; or<br />(b) any other functionary or institution when—<br />(i) exercising a power or performing a duty in terms of the Constitution or<br />a provincial constitution; or<br />(ii) exercising a public power or performing a public function in terms of any<br />legislation;<br />‘‘record’’ of, or in relation to, a public or private body, means any recorded<br />information—<br />(a) regardless of form or medium;<br />(b) in the possession or under the control of that public or private body,<br />respectively; and<br />(c) whether or not it was created by that public or private body, respectively;<br />‘‘relevant authority’’, in relation to—<br />(a) a public body referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of ‘‘public body’’<br />in the national sphere of government, means—<br />(i) in the case of the Office of the Presidency, the person designated in<br />writing by the President; or<br />(ii) in any other case, the Minister responsible for that public body or the<br />person designated in writing by that Minister;<br />(b) a public body referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of ‘‘public body’’<br />in the provincial sphere of government, means—<br />(i) in the case of the Office of a Premier, the person designated in writing by<br />the Premier; or<br />(ii) in any other case, the member of the Executive Council responsible for<br />that public body or the person designated in writing by that member; or<br />(c) a municipality, means—<br />(i) the mayor;<br />(ii) the speaker; or<br />(iii) any other person,<br />designated in writing by the Municipal Council of that municipality;<br />‘‘request for access’’, in relation to—<br />(a) a public body, means a request for access to a record of a public body in terms<br />of section 11; or<br />(b) a private body, means a request for access to a record of a private body in<br />terms of section 50;<br />‘‘requester’’, in relation to—<br />(a) a public body, means—<br />(i) any person (other than a public body contemplated in paragraph (a) or<br />(b)(i) of the definition of ‘‘public body’’, or an official thereof) making a<br />request for access to a record of that public body; or<br />8<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55<br />60(ii) a person acting on behalf of the person referred to in subparagraph (i);<br />(b) a private body, means—<br />(i) any person, including, but not limited to, a public body or an official<br />thereof, making a request for access to a record of that private body; or<br />(ii) a person acting on behalf of the person contemplated in subparagraph (i);<br />‘‘subversive or hostile activities’’ means—<br />(a) aggression against the Republic;<br />(b) sabotage or terrorism aimed at the people of the Republic or a strategic asset<br />of the Republic, whether inside or outside the Republic;<br />(c) an activity aimed at changing the constitutional order of the Republic by the<br />use of force or violence; or<br />(d) a foreign or hostile intelligence operation;<br />‘‘third party’’, in relation to a request for access to—<br />(a) a record of a public body, means any person (including, but not limited to, the<br />government of a foreign state, an international organisation or an organ of that<br />government or organisation) other than—<br />(i) the requester concerned; and<br />(ii) a public body; or<br />(b) a record of a private body, means any person (including, but not limited to, a<br />public body) other than the requester,<br />but, for the purposes of sections 34 and 63, the reference to ‘‘person’’ in paragraphs<br />(a) and (b) must be construed as a reference to ‘‘natural person’’;<br />‘‘this Act’’ includes any regulation made and in force in terms of section 92;<br />‘‘transfer’’, in relation to a record, means transfer in terms of section 20(1) or (2),<br />and‘‘transferred’’ has a corresponding meaning;<br />‘‘working days’’ means any days other than Saturdays, Sundays or public<br />holidays, as defined in section 1 of the Public Holidays Act, 1994 (Act No. 36 of<br />1994).<br />Interpretation of Act<br />2. (1) When interpreting a provision of this Act, every court must prefer any<br />reasonable interpretation of the provision that is consistent with the objects of this Act<br />over any alternative interpretation that is inconsistent with those objects.<br />(2) Section 12 must not be construed as excluding—<br />(a) the Cabinet and its committees; or<br />(b) an individual member of Parliament or of a provincial legislature,<br />from the operation of the definition of ‘‘requester’’ in relation to a private body in section<br />1, section 49 and all other provisions of this Act related thereto.<br />(3) For the purposes of this Act, the South African Revenue Service, established by<br />section 2 of the South African Revenue Service Act, 1997 (Act No. 34 of 1997), and<br />referred to in section 35(1), is a public body.<br />CHAPTER 2<br />GENERAL APPLICATION PROVISIONS<br />Act applies to record whenever it came into existence<br />3. This Act applies to—<br />(a) a record of a public body; and<br />(b) a record of a private body,<br />regardless of when the record came into existence.<br />Records held by official or independent contractor of public or private body<br />4. For the purposes of this Act, but subject to section 12, a record in the possession or<br />under the control of—<br />(a) an official of a public body or private body in his or her capacity as such; or<br />(b) an independent contractor engaged by a public body or private body in the<br />capacity as such contractor,<br />is regarded as being a record of that public body or private body, respectively.<br />Application of other legislation prohibiting or restricting disclosure<br />5. This Act applies to the exclusion of any provision of other legislation that—<br />9<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(a) prohibits or restricts the disclosure of a record of a public body or private<br />body; and<br />(b) is materially inconsistent with an object, or a specific provision, of this Act.<br />Application of other legislation providing for access<br />6. Nothing in this Act prevents the giving of access to—<br />(a) a record of a public body in terms of any legislation referred to in Part 1 of the<br />Schedule; or<br />(b) a record of a private body in terms of any legislation referred to in Part 2 of the<br />Schedule.<br />Act not applying to records required for criminal or civil proceedings after<br />commencement of proceedings<br />7. (1) This Act does not apply to a record of a public body or a private body if—<br />(a) that record is requested for the purpose of criminal or civil proceedings;<br />(b) so requested after the commencement of such criminal or civil proceedings, as<br />the case may be; and<br />(c) the production of or access to that record for the purpose referred to in<br />paragraph (a) is provided for in any other law.<br />(2) Any record obtained in a manner that contravenes subsection (1) is not admissible<br />as evidence in the criminal or civil proceedings referred to in that subsection unless the<br />exclusion of such record by the court in question would, in its opinion, be detrimental to<br />the interests of justice.<br />Part applicable when performing functions as public or private body<br />8. (1) For the purposes of this Act, a public body referred to in paragraph (b)(ii) of the<br />definition of ‘‘public body’’ in section 1, or a private body—<br />(a) may be either a public body or a private body in relation to a record of that<br />body; and<br />(b) may in one instance be a public body and in another instance be a private body,<br />depending on whether that record relates to the exercise of a power or<br />performance of a function as a public body or as a private body.<br />(2) A request for access to a record held for the purpose or with regard to the exercise<br />of a power or the performance of a function—<br />(a) as a public body, must be made in terms of section 11; or<br />(b) as a private body, must be made in terms of section 50.<br />(3) The provisions of Parts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 apply to a request for access to a record<br />that relates to a power or function exercised or performed as a public body.<br />(4) The provisions of Parts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 apply to a request for access to a record<br />that relates to a power or function exercised or performed as a private body.<br />CHAPTER 3<br />GENERAL INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS<br />Objects of Act<br />9. The objects of this Act are—<br />(a) to give effect to the constitutional right of access to—<br />(i) any information held by the State; and<br />(ii) any information that is held by another person and that is required for the<br />exercise or protection of any rights;<br />(b) to give effect to that right—<br />(i) subject to justifiable limitations, including, but not limited to, limitations<br />aimed at the reasonable protection of privacy, commercial confidentiality<br />and effective, efficient and good governance; and<br />(ii) in a manner which balances that right with any other rights, including the<br />rights in the Bill of Rights in Chapter 2 of the Constitution;<br />(c) to give effect to the constitutional obligations of the State of promoting a<br />human rights culture and social justice, by including public bodies in the<br />definition of ‘‘requester’’, allowing them, amongst others, to access informa-<br />10<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50tion from private bodies upon compliance with the four requirements in this<br />Act, including an additional obligation for certain public bodies in certain<br />instances to act in the public interest;<br />(d) to establish voluntary and mandatory mechanisms or procedures to give effect<br />to that right in a manner which enables persons to obtain access to records of<br />public and private bodies as swiftly, inexpensively and effortlessly as<br />reasonably possible; and<br />(e) generally, to promote transparency, accountability and effective governance<br />of all public and private bodies by, including, but not limited to, empowering<br />and educating everyone—<br />(i) to understand their rights in terms of this Act in order to exercise their<br />rights in relation to public and private bodies;<br />(ii) to understand the functions and operation of public bodies; and<br />(iii) to effectively scrutinise, and participate in, decision-making by public<br />bodies that affects their rights.<br />Guide on how to use Act<br />10. (1) The Human Rights Commission must, within 18 months after the<br />commencement of this section, compile in each official language a guide containing<br />such information, in an easily comprehensible form and manner, as may reasonably be<br />required by a person who wishes to exercise any right contemplated in this Act.<br />(2) The guide must, without limiting the generality of subsection (1), include a<br />description of—<br />(a) the objects of this Act;<br />(b) the postal and street address, phone and fax number and, if available,<br />electronic mail address of—<br />(i) the information officer of every public body; and<br />(ii) every deputy information officer of every public body appointed in terms<br />of section 17(1);<br />(c) such particulars of every private body as are practicable;<br />(d) the manner and form of a request for—<br />(i) access to a record of a public body contemplated in section 11; and<br />(ii) access to a record of a private body contemplated in section 50;<br />(e) the assistance available from the information officer of a public body in terms<br />of this Act;<br />(f) the assistance available from the Human Rights Commission in terms of this<br />Act;<br />(g) all remedies in law available regarding an act or failure to act in respect of a<br />right or duty conferred or imposed by this Act, including the manner of<br />lodging—<br />(i) an internal appeal; and<br />(ii) an application with a court against a decision by the information officer<br />of a public body, a decision on internal appeal or a decision of the head<br />of a private body;<br />(h) the provisions of sections 14 and 51 requiring a public body and private body,<br />respectively, to compile a manual, and how to obtain access to a manual;<br />(i) the provisions of sections 15 and 52 providing for the voluntary disclosure of<br />categories of records by a public body and private body, respectively;<br />(j) the notices issued in terms of sections 22 and 54 regarding fees to be paid in<br />relation to requests for access; and<br />(k) the regulations made in terms of section 92.<br />(3) The Human Rights Commission must, if necessary, update and publish the guide<br />at intervals of not more than two years.<br />(4) The guide must be made available as prescribed.<br />PART 2<br />ACCESS TO RECORDS OF PUBLIC BODIES<br />CHAPTER 1<br />RIGHT OF ACCESS, AND SPECIFIC APPLICATION PROVISIONS<br />Right of access to records of public bodies<br />11. (1) A requester must be given access to a record of a public body if—<br />11<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(a) that requester complies with all the procedural requirements in this Act<br />relating to a request for access to that record; and<br />(b) access to that record is not refused in terms of any ground for refusal<br />contemplated in Chapter 4 of this Part.<br />(2) A request contemplated in subsection (1) includes a request for access to a record<br />containing personal information about the requester.<br />(3) A requester’s right of access contemplated in subsection (1) is, subject to this Act,<br />not affected by—<br />(a) any reasons the requester gives for requesting access; or<br />(b) the information officer’s belief as to what the requester’s reasons are for<br />requesting access.<br />Act not applying to certain public bodies or officials thereof<br />12. This Act does not apply to a record of—<br />(a) the Cabinet and its committees;<br />(b) the judicial functions of—<br />(i) a court referred to in section 166 of the Constitution;<br />(ii) a Special Tribunal established in terms of section 2 of the Special<br />Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996 (Act No. 74 of<br />1996); or<br />(iii) a judicial officer of such court or Special Tribunal; or<br />(c) an individual member of Parliament or of a provincial legislature in that<br />capacity.<br />Body determined to be part of another public body<br />13. For the purpose of this Act, the Minister may, on his or her own accord or on the<br />request of the relevant public body or bodies or a body referred to in paragraph (c), in the<br />prescribed manner and by notice in the Gazette—<br />(a) determine that a public body is to be regarded as part of another public body;<br />(b) determine that a category of public bodies is to be regarded as one public body<br />with such information officer as the Minister designates; and<br />(c) if there is doubt as to whether a body is a separate public body or forms part<br />of a public body, determine that the body—<br />(i) is a separate public body; or<br />(ii) forms part of a public body.<br />CHAPTER 2<br />PUBLICATION AND AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN RECORDS<br />Manual on functions of, and index of records held by, public body<br />14. (1) Within six months after the commencement of this section or the coming into<br />existence of a public body, the information officer of the public body concerned must<br />compile in at least three official languages a manual containing—<br />(a) a description of its structure and functions;<br />(b) the postal and street address, phone and fax number and, if available,<br />electronic mail address of the information officer of the body and of every<br />deputy information officer of the body appointed in terms of section 17(1);<br />(c) a description of the guide referred to in section 10, if available, and how to<br />obtain access to it;<br />(d) sufficient detail to facilitate a request for access to a record of the body, a<br />description of the subjects on which the body holds records and the categories<br />of records held on each subject;<br />(e) the latest notice, in terms of section 15(2), if any, regarding the categories of<br />records of the body which are available without a person having to request<br />access in terms of this Act;<br />(f) a description of the services available to members of the public from the body<br />and how to gain access to those services;<br />(g) a description of any arrangement or provision for a person (other than a public<br />body referred to in paragraph (a) or (b)(i) of the definition of ‘‘public body’’<br />12<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55in section 1) by consultation, making representations or otherwise, to<br />participate in or influence—<br />(i) the formulation of policy; or<br />(ii) the exercise of powers or performance of duties,<br />by the body;<br />(h) a description of all remedies available in respect of an act or a failure to act by<br />the body; and<br />(i) such other information as may be prescribed.<br />(2) A public body must, if necessary, update and publish its manual referred to in<br />subsection (1) at intervals of not more than one year.<br />(3) Each manual must be made available as prescribed.<br />(4)(a) If the functions of two or more public bodies are closely connected, the<br />Minister may on request or of his or her own accord determine that the two or more<br />bodies compile one manual only.<br />(b) The public bodies in question must share the cost of the compilation and making<br />available of such manual as the Minister determines.<br />(5) For security, administrative or financial reasons, the Minister may, on request or of<br />his or her own accord by notice in the Gazette, exempt any public body or category of<br />public bodies from any provision of this section for such period as the Minister thinks fit.<br />Voluntary disclosure and automatic availability of certain records<br />15. (1) The information officer of a public body, referred to in paragraph (a) or (b)(i)<br />of the definition of ‘‘public body’’ in section 1, must, on a periodic basis not less<br />frequently than once each year, submit to the Minister a description of—<br />(a) the categories of records of the public body that are automatically available<br />without a person having to request access in terms of this Act, including such<br />categories available—<br />(i) for inspection in terms of legislation other than this Act;<br />(ii) for purchase or copying from the body; and<br />(iii) from the body free of charge; and<br />(b) how to obtain access to such records.<br />(2) On a periodic basis not less frequently than once each year and at the cost of the<br />relevant public body, the Minister must, by notice in the Gazette—<br />(a) publish every description submitted in terms of subsection (1); or<br />(b) update every description so published,<br />as the case may be.<br />(3) The only fee payable (if any) for access to a record included in a notice in terms<br />of subsection (2) is a prescribed fee for reproduction.<br />(4) The information officer of a public body may delete any part of a record<br />contemplated in subsection (1)(a) which, on a request for access, may or must be refused<br />in terms of Chapter 4 of this Part.<br />(5) Section 11 and any other provisions in this Act related to that section do not apply<br />to any category of records included in a notice in terms of subsection (2).<br />Information in telephone directory<br />16. The Director-General of the national department responsible for government<br />communications and information services must at that department’s cost ensure the<br />publication of the postal and street address, phone and fax number and, if available,<br />electronic mail address of the information officer of every public body in every<br />telephone directory issued for general use by the public as are prescribed.<br />CHAPTER 3<br />MANNER OF ACCESS<br />Designation of deputy information officers, and delegation<br />17. (1) For the purposes of this Act, each public body must, subject to legislation<br />governing the employment of personnel of the public body concerned, designate such<br />number of persons as deputy information officers as are necessary to render the public<br />body as accessible as reasonably possible for requesters of its records.<br />13<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(2) The information officer of a public body has direction and control over every<br />deputy information officer of that body.<br />(3) The information officer of a public body may delegate a power or duty conferred<br />or imposed on that information officer by this Act to a deputy information officer of that<br />public body.<br />(4) In deciding whether to delegate a power or duty in terms of subsection (3), the<br />information officer must give due consideration to the need to render the public body as<br />accessible as reasonably possible for requesters of its records.<br />(5) Any power or duty delegated in terms of subsection (3) must be exercised or<br />performed subject to such conditions as the person who made the delegation considers<br />necessary.<br />(6) Any delegation in terms of subsection (3)—<br />(a) must be in writing;<br />(b) does not prohibit the person who made the delegation from exercising the<br />power concerned or performing the duty concerned himself or herself; and<br />(c) may at any time be withdrawn or amended in writing by that person.<br />(7) Any right or privilege acquired, or any obligation or liability incurred, as a result<br />of a decision in terms of a delegation in terms of subsection (3) is not affected by any<br />subsequent withdrawal or amendment of that decision.<br />Form of requests<br />18. (1) A request for access must be made in the prescribed form to the information<br />officer of the public body concerned at his or her address or fax number or electronic<br />mail address.<br />(2) The form for a request of access prescribed for the purposes of subsection (1) must<br />at least require the requester concerned—<br />(a) to provide sufficient particulars to enable an official of the public body<br />concerned to identify—<br />(i) the record or records requested; and<br />(ii) the requester;<br />(b) to indicate which applicable form of access referred to in section 29(2) is<br />required;<br />(c) to state whether the record concerned is preferred in a particular language;<br />(d) to specify a postal address or fax number of the requester in the Republic;<br />(e) if, in addition to a written reply, the requester wishes to be informed of the<br />decision on the request in any other manner, to state that manner and the<br />necessary particulars to be so informed; and<br />(f) if the request is made on behalf of a person, to submit proof of the capacity in<br />which the requester is making the request, to the reasonable satisfaction of the<br />information officer.<br />(3)(a) An individual who because of illiteracy or a disability is unable to make a<br />request for access to a record of a public body in accordance with subsection (1), may<br />make that request orally.<br />(b) The information officer of that body must reduce that oral request to writing in the<br />prescribed form and provide a copy thereof to the requester.<br />Duty to assist requesters<br />19. (1) If a requester informs the information officer of—<br />(a) a public body that he or she wishes to make a request for access to a record of<br />that public body; or<br />(b) a public body (other than a public body referred to in paragraph (a) or (b)(i) of<br />the definition of ‘‘public body’’ in section1) that he or she wishes to make a<br />request for access to a record of another public body,<br />the information officer must render such reasonable assistance, free of charge, as is<br />necessary to enable that requester to comply with section 18(1).<br />(2) If a requester has made a request for access that does not comply with section<br />18(1), the information officer concerned may not refuse the request because of that<br />non-compliance unless the information officer has—<br />(a) notified that requester of an intention to refuse the request and stated in the<br />notice—<br />(i) the reasons for the contemplated refusal; and<br />14<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(ii) that the information officer or another official identified by the<br />information officer would assist that requester in order to make the<br />request in a form that would remove the grounds for refusal;<br />(b) given the requester a reasonable opportunity to seek such assistance;<br />(c) as far as reasonably possible, furnished the requester with any information<br />(including information about the records, other than information on the basis<br />of which a request for access may or must be refused in terms of any provision<br />of Chapter 4 of this Part, held by the body which are relevant to the request)<br />that would assist the making of the request in that form; and<br />(d) given the requester a reasonable opportunity to confirm the request or alter it<br />to comply with section 18(1).<br />(3) When computing any period referred to in section 25(1), the period commencing<br />on the date on which notice is given in terms of subsection (2) and ending on the date on<br />which the person confirms or alters the request for access concerned must be<br />disregarded.<br />(4) If it is apparent on receipt of a request for access that it should have been made to<br />another public body, the information officer of the public body concerned must—<br />(a) render such assistance as is necessary to enable the person to make the<br />request, to the information officer of the appropriate public body; or<br />(b) transfer the request in accordance with section 20 to the last-mentioned<br />information officer,<br />whichever will result in the request being dealt with earlier.<br />Transfer of requests<br />20. (1) If a request for access is made to the information officer of a public body in<br />respect of which—<br />(a) the record is not in the possession or under the control of that body but is in the<br />possession of another public body;<br />(b) the record’s subject matter is more closely connected with the functions of<br />another public body than those of the public body of the information officer to<br />whom the request is made; or<br />(c) the record contains commercial information contemplated in section 42 in<br />which any other public body has a greater commercial interest,<br />the information officer to whom the request is made must as soon as reasonably possible,<br />but in any event within 14 days after the request is received—<br />(i) transfer the request to the information officer of the other public body or, if<br />there is in the case of paragraph (c) more than one other public body having a<br />commercial interest, the other public body with the greatest commercial<br />interest; and<br />(ii) if the public body of the information officer to whom the request is made is in<br />possession of the record and considers it helpful to do so to enable the<br />information officer of the other public body to deal with the request, send the<br />record or a copy of the record to that information officer.<br />(2) If a request for access is made to the information officer of a public body in respect<br />of which—<br />(a) the record is not in the possession or under the control of the public body of<br />that information officer and the information officer does not know which<br />public body has possession or control of the record;<br />(b) the record’s subject matter is not closely connected to the functions of the<br />public body of that information officer and the information officer does not<br />know whether the record is more closely connected with the functions of<br />another public body than those of the public body of the information officer to<br />whom the request is made; and<br />(c) the record—<br />(i) was created by or for another public body; or<br />(ii) was not so created by or for any public body, but was received first by<br />another public body,<br />the information officer to whom the request is made, must as soon as reasonably<br />possible, but in any event within 14 days after the request is received, transfer the<br />request to the information officer of the public body by or for which the record was<br />created or which received it first, as the case may be.<br />15<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55<br />60(3) Subject to subsection (4), the information officer to whom a request for access is<br />transferred, must give priority to that request in relation to other requests as if it were<br />received by him or her on the date it was received by the information officer who<br />transferred the request.<br />(4) If a request for access is transferred, any period referred to in section 25(1) must<br />be computed from the date the request is received by the information officer to whom the<br />request is transferred.<br />(5) Upon the transfer of a request for access, the information officer making the<br />transfer must immediately notify the requester of—<br />(a) the transfer;<br />(b) the reasons for the transfer; and<br />(c) the period within which the request must be dealt with.<br />Preservation of records until final decision on request<br />21. If the information officer of a public body has received a request for access to a<br />record of the body, that information officer must take the steps that are reasonably<br />necessary to preserve the record, without deleting any information contained in it, until<br />the information officer has notified the requester concerned of his or her decision in<br />terms of section 25 and—<br />(a) the periods for lodging an internal appeal, an application with a court or an<br />appeal against a decision of that court have expired; or<br />(b) that internal appeal, application or appeal against a decision of that court or<br />other legal proceedings in connection with the request has been finally<br />determined,<br />whichever is the later.<br />Fees<br />22. (1) The information officer of a public body to whom a request for access is made,<br />must by notice require the requester, other than a personal requester, to pay the<br />prescribed request fee (if any), before further processing the request.<br />(2) If—<br />(a) the search for a record of a public body in respect of which a request for access<br />by a requester, other than a personal requester, has been made; and<br />(b) the preparation of the record for disclosure (including any arrangements<br />contemplated in section 29(2)(a) and (b)(i) and (ii)(aa)),<br />would, in the opinion of the information officer of the body, require more than the hours<br />prescribed for this purpose for requesters, the information officer must by notice require<br />the requester, other than a personal requester, to pay as a deposit the prescribed portion<br />(being not more than one third) of the access fee which would be payable if the request<br />is granted.<br />(3) The notice referred to in subsection (1) or (2) must state—<br />(a) the amount of the deposit payable in terms of subsection (2), if applicable;<br />(b) that the requester may lodge an internal appeal or an application with a court,<br />as the case may be, against the tender or payment of the request fee in terms<br />of subsection (1), or the tender or payment of a deposit in terms of subsection<br />(2), as the case may be; and<br />(c) the procedure (including the period) for lodging the internal appeal or<br />application, as the case may be.<br />(4) If a deposit has been paid in respect of a request for access which is refused, the<br />information officer concerned must repay the deposit to the requester.<br />(5) The information officer of a public body must withhold a record until the requester<br />concerned has paid the applicable fees (if any).<br />(6) A requester whose request for access to a record of a public body has been granted<br />must pay an access fee for reproduction and for search and preparation contemplated in<br />subsection (7)(a) and (b), respectively, for any time reasonably required in excess of the<br />prescribed hours to search for and prepare (including making any arrangements<br />contemplated in section 29(2)(a) and (b)(i) and (ii)(aa)) the record for disclosure.<br />(7) Access fees prescribed for the purposes of subsection (6) must provide for a<br />reasonable access fee for—<br />(a) the cost of making a copy of a record, or of a transcription of the content of a<br />16<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55record, as contemplated in section 29(2)(a) and (b)(i), (ii)(bb), (iii) and (v)<br />and, if applicable, the postal fee; and<br />(b) the time reasonably required to search for the record and prepare (including<br />making any arrangements contemplated in section 29(2)(a) and (b)(i) and<br />(ii)(aa)) the record for disclosure to the requester.<br />(8) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette—<br />(a) exempt any person or category of persons from paying any fee referred to in<br />this section;<br />(b) determine that any fee referred to in this section is not to exceed a certain<br />maximum amount;<br />(c) determine the manner in which any fee referred to in this section is to be<br />calculated;<br />(d) determine that any fee referred to in this section does not apply to a category<br />of records;<br />(e) exempt any person or record or category of persons or records for a stipulated<br />period from any fee referred to in subsection (6); and<br />(f) determine that where the cost of collecting any fee referred to in this section<br />exceeds the amount charged, such fee does not apply.<br />Records that cannot be found or do not exist<br />23. (1) If—<br />(a) all reasonable steps have been taken to find a record requested; and<br />(b) there are reasonable grounds for believing that the record—<br />(i) is in the public body’s possession but cannot be found; or<br />(ii) does not exist,<br />the information officer of a public body must, by way of affidavit or affirmation, notify<br />the requester that it is not possible to give access to that record.<br />(2) The affidavit or affirmation referred to in subsection (1) must give a full account<br />of all steps taken to find the record in question or to determine whether the record exists,<br />as the case may be, including all communications with every person who conducted the<br />search on behalf of the information officer.<br />(3) For the purposes of this Act, the notice in terms of subsection (1) is to be regarded<br />as a decision to refuse a request for access to the record.<br />(4) If, after notice is given in terms of subsection (1), the record in question is found,<br />the requester concerned must be given access to the record unless access is refused on<br />a ground for refusal contemplated in Chapter 4 of this Part.<br />Deferral of access<br />24. (1) If the information officer of a public body decides to grant a request for access<br />to a record, but that record—<br />(a) is to be published within 90 days after the receipt or transfer of the request or<br />such further period as is reasonably necessary for printing and translating the<br />record for the purpose of publishing it;<br />(b) is required by law to be published but is yet to be published; or<br />(c) has been prepared for submission to any legislature or a particular person but<br />is yet to be submitted,<br />the information officer may defer giving access to the record for a reasonable period.<br />(2) If access to a record is deferred in terms of subsection (1), the information officer<br />must notify the requester concerned—<br />(a) that the requester may, within 30 days after that notice is given, make<br />representations to the information officer why the record is required before<br />such publication or submission; and<br />(b) of the likely period for which access is to be deferred.<br />(3) If a requester makes representations in terms of subsection (2)(a), the information<br />officer must, after due consideration of those representations, grant the request for<br />access only if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the requester will suffer<br />substantial prejudice if access to the record is deferred for the likely period referred to<br />in subsection (2)(b).<br />17<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55Decision on request and notice thereof<br />25. (1) The information officer to whom a request for access is made or transferred,<br />must, subject to section 26 and Chapter 5 of this Part, as soon as reasonably possible, but<br />in any event within 30 days, after the request is received—<br />(a) decide in accordance with this Act whether to grant the request; and<br />(b) notify the requester of the decision and, if the requester stated, as<br />contemplated in section 18(2)(e), that he or she wishes to be informed of the<br />decision in any other manner, inform him or her in that manner if it is<br />reasonably possible.<br />(2) If the request for access is granted, the notice in terms of subsection (1)(b) must<br />state—<br />(a) the access fee (if any) to be paid upon access;<br />(b) the form in which access will be given; and<br />(c) that the requester may lodge an internal appeal or an application with a court,<br />as the case may be, against the access fee to be paid or the form of access<br />granted, and the procedure (including the period) for lodging the internal<br />appeal or application, as the case may be.<br />(3) If the request for access is refused, the notice in terms of subsection (1)(b) must—<br />(a) state adequate reasons for the refusal, including the provisions of this Act<br />relied upon;<br />(b) exclude, from such reasons, any reference to the content of the record; and<br />(c) state that the requester may lodge an internal appeal or an application with a<br />court, as the case may be, against the refusal of the request, and the procedure<br />(including the period) for lodging the internal appeal or application, as the<br />case may be.<br />Extension of period to deal with request<br />26. (1) The information officer to whom a request for access has been made or<br />transferred, may extend the period of 30 days referred to in section 25(1) (in this section<br />referred to as the ‘‘original period’’) once for a further period of not more than 30 days,<br />if—<br />(a) the request is for a large number of records or requires a search through a large<br />number of records and compliance with the original period would unreasonably interfere with the activities of the public body concerned;<br />(b) the request requires a search for records in, or collection thereof from, an<br />office of the public body not situated in the same town or city as the office of<br />the information officer that cannot reasonably be completed within the<br />original period;<br />(c) consultation among divisions of the public body or with another public body<br />is necessary or desirable to decide upon the request that cannot reasonably be<br />completed within the original period;<br />(d) more than one of the circumstances contemplated in paragraphs (a), (b) and<br />(c) exist in respect of the request making compliance with the original period<br />not reasonably possible; or<br />(e) the requester consents in writing to such extension.<br />(2) If a period is extended in terms of subsection (1), the information officer must, as<br />soon as reasonably possible, but in any event within 30 days, after the request is received<br />or transferred, notify the requester of that extension.<br />(3) The notice in terms of subsection (2) must state—<br />(a) the period of the extension;<br />(b) adequate reasons for the extension, including the provisions of this Act relied<br />upon; and<br />(c) that the requester may lodge an internal appeal or an application with a court,<br />as the case may be, against the extension, and the procedure (including the<br />period) for lodging the internal appeal or application, as the case may be.<br />Deemed refusal of request<br />27. If an information officer fails to give the decision on a request for access to the<br />requester concerned within the period contemplated in section 25(1), the information<br />officer is, for the purposes of this Act, regarded as having refused the request.<br />18<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55Severability<br />28. (1) If a request for access is made to a record of a public body containing<br />information which may or must be refused in terms of any provision of Chapter 4 of this<br />Part, every part of the record which—<br />(a) does not contain; and<br />(b) can reasonably be severed from any part that contains,<br />any such information must, despite any other provision of this Act, be disclosed.<br />(2) If a request for access to—<br />(a) a part of a record is granted; and<br />(b) the other part of the record is refused,<br />as contemplated in subsection (1), the provisions of section 25(2), apply to paragraph (a)<br />of this section and the provisions of section 25(3) to paragraph (b) of this section.<br />Access and forms of access<br />29. (1) If a requester has been given notice in terms of section 25(1) that his or her<br />request for access has been granted, that requester must, subject to subsections (3) and<br />(9) and section 31—<br />(a) if an access fee is payable, upon payment of that fee; or<br />(b) if no access fee is payable, immediately,<br />be given access in the applicable forms referred to in subsection (2) as the requester<br />indicated in the request, and in the language contemplated in section 31.<br />(2) The forms of access to a record in respect of which a request of access has been<br />granted, are the following:<br />(a) If the record is in written or printed form, by supplying a copy of the record or<br />by making arrangements for the inspection of the record;<br />(b) if the record is not in written or printed form—<br />(i) in the case of a record from which visual images or printed transcriptions<br />of those images are capable of being reproduced by means of equipment<br />which is ordinarily available to the public body concerned, by making<br />arrangements to view those images or be supplied with copies or<br />transcriptions of them;<br />(ii) in the case of a record in which words or information are recorded in such<br />manner that they are capable of being reproduced in the form of sound by<br />equipment which is ordinarily available to the public body concerned—<br />(aa) by making arrangements to hear those sounds; or<br />(bb) if the public body is capable of producing a written or printed<br />transcription of those sounds by the use of equipment which is<br />ordinarily available to it, by supplying such a transcription;<br />(iii) in the case of a record which is held on computer, or in electronic or<br />machine-readable form, and from which the public body concerned is<br />capable of producing a printed copy of—<br />(aa) the record, or a part of it; or<br />(bb) information derived from the record,<br />by using computer equipment and expertise ordinarily available to the<br />public body, by supplying such a copy;<br />(iv) in the case of a record available or capable of being made available in<br />computer readable form, by supplying a copy in that form; or<br />(v) in any other case, by supplying a copy of the record.<br />(3) If a requester has requested access in a particular form, access must, subject to<br />section 28, be given in that form, unless to do so would—<br />(a) interfere unreasonably with the effective administration of the public body<br />concerned;<br />(b) be detrimental to the preservation of the record; or<br />(c) amount to an infringement of copyright not owned by the State or the public<br />body concerned.<br />(4) If a requester has requested access in a particular form and for a reason referred to<br />in subsection (3) access in that form is refused but access is given in another form, the<br />fee charged may not exceed what would have been charged if that requester had been<br />given access in the form requested.<br />(5) If a requester with a disability is prevented by that disability from reading, viewing<br />or listening to the record concerned in the form in which it is held by the public body<br />19<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55<br />60concerned, the information officer of the body must, if that requester so requests, take<br />reasonable steps to make the record available in a form in which it is capable of being<br />read, viewed or heard by the requester.<br />(6) If a record is made available in accordance with subsection (5), the requester may<br />not be required to pay an access fee which is more than the fee which he or she would<br />have been required to pay but for the disability.<br />(7) If a record is made available in terms of this section to a requester for inspection,<br />viewing or hearing, the requester may make copies of or transcribe the record using the<br />requester’s equipment, unless to do so would—<br />(a) interfere unreasonably with the effective administration of the public body<br />concerned;<br />(b) be detrimental to the preservation of the record; or<br />(c) amount to an infringement of copyright not owned by the State or the public<br />body concerned.<br />(8) If the supply to a requester of a copy of a record is required by this section, the<br />copy must, if so requested, be supplied by posting it to him or her.<br />(9) If an internal appeal or an application to a court, as the case may be, is lodged<br />against the granting of a request for access to a record, access to the record may be given<br />only when the decision to grant the request is finally confirmed.<br />Access to health or other records<br />30. (1) If the information officer who grants, in terms of section 11, a request for<br />access to a record provided by a health practitioner in his or her capacity as such about<br />the physical or mental health, or well-being—<br />(a) of the requester; or<br />(b) if the request has been made on behalf of the person to whom the record<br />relates, of that person,<br />(in this section, the requester and person referred to paragraphs (a) and (b), respectively,<br />are referred to as the ‘‘relevant person’’), is of the opinion that the disclosure of the<br />record to the relevant person might cause serious harm to his or her physical or mental<br />health, or well-being, the information officer may, before giving access in terms of<br />section 29, consult with a health practitioner who, subject to subsection (2), has been<br />nominated by the relevant person.<br />(2) If the relevant person is—<br />(a) under the age of 16 years, a person having parental responsibilities for the<br />relevant person must make the nomination contemplated in subsection (1); or<br />(b) incapable of managing his or her affairs, a person appointed by the court to<br />manage those affairs must make that nomination.<br />(3)(a) If, after being given access to the record concerned, the health practitioner<br />consulted in terms of subsection (1) is of the opinion that the disclosure of the record to<br />the relevant person would be likely to cause serious harm to his or her physical or mental<br />health, or well-being, the information officer may only give access to the record if the<br />requester proves to the satisfaction of the information officer that adequate provision is<br />made for such counselling or arrangements as are reasonably practicable before, during<br />or after the disclosure of the record to limit, alleviate or avoid such harm to the relevant<br />person.<br />(b) Before access to the record is so given to the requester, the person responsible for<br />such counselling or arrangements must be given access to the record.<br />Language of access<br />31. A requester whose request for access to a record of a public body has been granted<br />must, if the record—<br />(a) exists in the language that the requester prefers, be given access in that<br />language; or<br />(b) does not exist in the language so preferred or the requester has no preference<br />or has not indicated a preference, be given access in any language the record<br />exists in.<br />20<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55Reports to Human Rights Commission<br />32. The information officer of each public body must annually submit to the Human<br />Rights Commission a report stating in relation to the public body—<br />(a) the number of requests for access received;<br />(b) the number of requests for access granted in full;<br />(c) the number of requests for access granted in terms of section 46;<br />(d) the number of requests for access refused in full and refused partially and the<br />number of times each provision of this Act was relied on to refuse access in<br />full or partial;<br />(e) the number of cases in which the periods stipulated in section 25(1) were<br />extended in terms of section 26(1);<br />(g) the number of internal appeals lodged with the relevant authority and the<br />number of cases in which, as a result of an internal appeal, access was given<br />to a record;<br />(h) the number of internal appeals which were lodged on the ground that a request<br />for access was regarded as having been refused in terms of section 27;<br />(i) the number of applications to a court which were lodged on the ground that an<br />internal appeal was regarded as having been dismissed in terms of section<br />77(7); and<br />(j) such other matters as may be prescribed.<br />CHAPTER 4<br />GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL OF ACCESS TO RECORDS<br />Interpretation<br />33. (1) The information officer of a public body—<br />(a) must refuse a request for access to a record contemplated in section 34(1),<br />35(1), 36(1), 37(1)(a), 38(a), 39(1)(a), 40 or 43(1); or<br />(b) may refuse a request for access to a record contemplated in section 37(1)(b),<br />38(b), 39(1)(b), 41(1)(a) or (b), 42(1) or (3), 43(2), 44(1) or (2) or 45,<br />unless the provisions of section 46 apply.<br />(2) A provision of this Chapter in terms of which a request for access to a record must<br />or may or may not be refused, may not be construed as—<br />(a) limited in its application in any way by any other provision of this Chapter in<br />terms of which a request for access to a record must or may or may not be<br />refused; and<br />(b) not applying to a particular record by reason that another provision of this<br />Chapter in terms of which a request for access to a record must or may or may<br />not be refused, also applies to that record.<br />Mandatory protection of privacy of third party who is natural person<br />34. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the information officer of a public body must refuse<br />a request for access to a record of the body if its disclosure would involve the<br />unreasonable disclosure of personal information about a third party, including a<br />deceased individual.<br />(2) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (1) insofar as it consists of<br />information—<br />(a) about an individual who has consented in terms of section 48 or otherwise in<br />writing to its disclosure to the requester concerned;<br />(b) that was given to the public body by the individual to whom it relates and the<br />individual was informed by or on behalf of the public body, before it is given,<br />that the information belongs to a class of information that would or might be<br />made available to the public;<br />(c) already publicly available;<br />(d) about an individual’s physical or mental health, or well-being, who is under<br />the care of the requester and who is—<br />(i) under the age of 18 years; or<br />(ii) incapable of understanding the nature of the request,<br />and if giving access would be in the individual’s best interests;<br />(e) about an individual who is deceased and the requester is—<br />21<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(i) the individual’s next of kin; or<br />(ii) making the request with the written consent of the individual’s next of<br />kin; or<br />(f) about an individual who is or was an official of a public body and which<br />relates to the position or functions of the individual, including, but not limited<br />to—<br />(i) the fact that the individual is or was an official of that public body;<br />(ii) the title, work address, work phone number and other similar particulars<br />of the individual;<br />(iii) the classification, salary scale or remuneration and responsibilities of the<br />position held or services performed by the individual; and<br />(iv) the name of the individual on a record prepared by the individual in the<br />course of employment.<br />Mandatory protection of certain records of South African Revenue Service<br />35. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the information officer of the South African Revenue<br />Service, referred to in section 2(3), must refuse a request for access to a record of that<br />Service if it contains information which was obtained or is held by that Service for the<br />purposes of enforcing legislation concerning the collection of revenue as defined in<br />section 1 of the South African Revenue Service Act, 1997 (Act No. 34 of 1997).<br />(2) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (1) insofar as it consists of<br />information about the requester or the person on whose behalf the request is made.<br />Mandatory protection of commercial information of third party<br />36. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the information officer of a public body must refuse<br />a request for access to a record of the body if the record contains—<br />(a) trade secrets of a third party;<br />(b) financial, commercial, scientific or technical information, other than trade<br />secrets, of a third party, the disclosure of which would be likely to cause harm<br />to the commercial or financial interests of that third party; or<br />(c) information supplied in confidence by a third party the disclosure of which<br />could reasonably be expected—<br />(i) to put that third party at a disadvantage in contractual or other<br />negotiations; or<br />(ii) to prejudice that third party in commercial competition.<br />(2) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (1) insofar as it consists of<br />information—<br />(a) already publicly available;<br />(b) about a third party who has consented in terms of section 48 or otherwise in<br />writing to its disclosure to the requester concerned; or<br />(c) about the results of any product or environmental testing or other investigation<br />supplied by, carried out by or on behalf of a third party and its disclosure<br />would reveal a serious public safety or environmental risk.<br />(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(c), the results of any product or environmental<br />testing or other investigation do not include the results of preliminary testing or other<br />investigation conducted for the purpose of developing methods of testing or other<br />investigation.<br />Mandatory protection of certain confidential information, and protection of<br />certain other confidential information, of third party<br />37. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the information officer of a public body—<br />(a) must refuse a request for access to a record of the body if the disclosure of the<br />record would constitute an action for breach of a duty of confidence owed to<br />a third party in terms of an agreement; or<br />(b) may refuse a request for access to a record of the body if the record consists<br />of information that was supplied in confidence by a third party—<br />(i) the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to prejudice the<br />future supply of similar information, or information from the same<br />source; and<br />(ii) if it is in the public interest that similar information, or information from<br />the same source, should continue to be supplied.<br />22<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(2) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (1) insofar as it consists of<br />information—<br />(a) already publicly available; or<br />(b) about the third party concerned that has consented in terms of section 48 or<br />otherwise in writing to its disclosure to the requester concerned.<br />Mandatory protection of safety of individuals, and protection of property<br />38. The information officer of a public body—<br />(a) must refuse a request for access to a record of the body if its disclosure could<br />reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of an individual;<br />or<br />(b) may refuse a request for access to a record of the body if its disclosure would<br />be likely to prejudice or impair—<br />(i) the security of—<br />(aa) a building, structure or system, including, but not limited to, a<br />computer or communication system;<br />(bb) a means of transport; or<br />(cc) any other property; or<br />(ii) methods, systems, plans or procedures for the protection of—<br />(aa) an individual in accordance with a witness protection scheme;<br />(bb) the safety of the public, or any part of the public; or<br />(cc) the security of property contemplated in subparagraph (i)(aa), (bb)<br />or (cc).<br />Mandatory protection of police dockets in bail proceedings, and protection of law<br />enforcement and legal proceedings<br />39. (1) The information officer of a public body—<br />(a) must refuse a request for access to a record of the body if access to that record<br />is prohibited in terms of section 60(14) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977<br />(Act No. 51 of 1977); or<br />(b) may refuse a request for access to a record of the body if—<br />(i) the record contains methods, techniques, procedures or guidelines for—<br />(aa) the prevention, detection, curtailment or investigation of a contravention or possible contravention of the law; or<br />(bb) the prosecution of alleged offenders,<br />and the disclosure of those methods, techniques, procedures or guidelines could reasonably be expected to prejudice the effectiveness of those<br />methods, techniques, procedures or guidelines or lead to the circumvention of the law or facilitate the commission of an offence;<br />(ii) the prosecution of an alleged offender is being prepared or about to<br />commence or pending and the disclosure of the record could reasonably<br />be expected—<br />(aa) to impede that prosecution; or<br />(bb) to result in a miscarriage of justice in that prosecution; or<br />(iii) the disclosure of the record could reasonably be expected—<br />(aa) to prejudice the investigation of a contravention or possible<br />contravention of the law which is about to commence or is in<br />progress or, if it has been suspended or terminated, is likely to be<br />resumed;<br />(bb) to reveal, or enable a person to ascertain, the identity of a<br />confidential source of information in relation to the enforcement or<br />administration of the law;<br />(cc) to result in the intimidation or coercion of a witness, or a person<br />who might be or has been called as a witness, in criminal<br />proceedings or other proceedings to enforce the law;<br />(dd) to facilitate the commission of a contravention of the law, including,<br />but not limited to, subject to subsection (2), escape from lawful<br />detention; or<br />(ee) to prejudice or impair the fairness of a trial or the impartiality of an<br />adjudication.<br />(2) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (1)(b)(iii)(dd) insofar as it<br />consists of information about the general conditions of detention of persons in custody.<br />23<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55<br />60(3)(a) If a request for access to a record of a public body must or may be refused in<br />terms of subsection (1)(a) or (b), or could, if it existed, be so refused, and the disclosure<br />of the existence or non-existence of the record would be likely to cause the harm<br />contemplated in subsection (1)(a) or (b), the information officer concerned may refuse<br />to confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of the record.<br />(b) If the information officer so refuses to confirm or deny the existence or<br />non-existence of the record, the notice referred to in section 25(3) must—<br />(i) state that fact;<br />(ii) identify the provision of subsection (1)(a) or (b) in terms of which access<br />would have been refused if the record had existed;<br />(iii) state adequate reasons for the refusal, as required by section 25(3), in so far as<br />they can be given without causing the harm contemplated in any provision of<br />subsection (1)(a) or (b); and<br />(iv) state that the requester concerned may lodge an internal appeal or an<br />application with a court, as the case may be, against the refusal as required by<br />section 25(3).<br />Mandatory protection of records privileged from production in legal proceedings<br />40. The information officer of a public body must refuse a request for access to a<br />record of the body if the record is privileged from production in legal proceedings unless<br />the person entitled to the privilege has waived the privilege.<br />Defence, security and international relations of Republic<br />41. (1) The information officer of a public body may refuse a request for access to a<br />record of the body if its disclosure—<br />(a) could reasonably be expected to cause prejudice to—<br />(i) the defence of the Republic;<br />(ii) the security of the Republic; or<br />(iii) subject to subsection (3), the international relations of the Republic; or<br />(b) would reveal information—<br />(i) supplied in confidence by or on behalf of another state or an international<br />organisation;<br />(ii) supplied by or on behalf of the Republic to another state or an<br />international organisation in terms of an arrangement or international<br />agreement, contemplated in section 231 of the Constitution, with that<br />state or organisation which requires the information to be held in<br />confidence; or<br />(iii) required to be held in confidence by an international agreement or<br />customary international law contemplated in section 231 or 232,<br />respectively, of the Constitution.<br />(2) A record contemplated in subsection (1), without limiting the generality of that<br />subsection, includes a record containing information—<br />(a) relating to military tactics or strategy or military exercises or operations<br />undertaken in preparation of hostilities or in connection with the detection,<br />prevention, suppression or curtailment of subversive or hostile activities;<br />(b) relating to the quantity, characteristics, capabilities, vulnerabilities or deployment of—<br />(i) weapons or any other equipment used for the detection, prevention,<br />suppression or curtailment of subversive or hostile activities; or<br />(ii) anything being designed, developed, produced or considered for use as<br />weapons or such other equipment;<br />(c) relating to the characteristics, capabilities, vulnerabilities, performance,<br />potential, deployment or functions of—<br />(i) any military force, unit or personnel; or<br />(ii) any body or person responsible for the detection, prevention, suppression<br />or curtailment of subversive or hostile activities;<br />(d) held for the purpose of intelligence relating to—<br />(i) the defence of the Republic;<br />(ii) the detection, prevention, suppression or curtailment of subversive or<br />hostile activities; or<br />(iii) another state or an international organisation used by or on behalf of the<br />Republic in the process of deliberation and consultation in the conduct of<br />international affairs;<br />24<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55<br />60(e) on methods of, and scientific or technical equipment for, collecting, assessing<br />or handling information referred to in paragraph (d);<br />(f) on the identity of a confidential source and any other source of information<br />referred to in paragraph (d);<br />(g) on the positions adopted or to be adopted by the Republic, another state or an<br />international organisation for the purpose of present or future international<br />negotiations; or<br />(h) that constitutes diplomatic correspondence exchanged with another state or an<br />international organisation or official correspondence exchanged with diplomatic missions or consular posts of the Republic.<br />(3) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (1)(a)(iii) if it came into<br />existence more than 20 years before the request.<br />(4)(a) If a request for access to a record of a public body may be refused in terms of<br />subsection (1), or could, if it existed, be so refused, and the disclosure of the existence<br />or non-existence of the record would be likely to cause the harm contemplated in any<br />provision of subsection (1), the information officer concerned may refuse to confirm or<br />deny the existence or non-existence of the record.<br />(b) If the information officer so refuses to confirm or deny the existence or<br />non-existence of the record, the notice referred to in section 25(3) must—<br />(i) state that fact;<br />(ii) identify the provision of subsection (1) in terms of which access would have<br />been refused if the record had existed;<br />(iii) state adequate reasons for the refusal, as required by section 25(3), in so far as<br />they can be given without causing the harm contemplated in subsection (1);<br />and<br />(iv) state that the requester may lodge an internal appeal or an application with a<br />court, as the case may be, against the refusal as required by section 25(3).<br />Economic interests and financial welfare of Republic and commercial activities of<br />public bodies<br />42. (1) The information officer of a public body may refuse a request for access to a<br />record of the body if its disclosure would be likely to materially jeopardise the economic<br />interests or financial welfare of the Republic or the ability of the government to manage<br />the economy of the Republic effectively in the best interests of the Republic.<br />(2) The information referred to in subsection (1) includes, without limiting the<br />generality of that subsection, information about—<br />(a) a contemplated change in, or maintenance of, a policy substantially affecting<br />the currency, coinage, legal tender, exchange rates or foreign investment;<br />(b) a contemplated change in or decision not to change—<br />(i) credit or interest rates;<br />(ii) customs or excise duties, taxes or any other source of revenue;<br />(iii) the regulation or supervision of financial institutions;<br />(iv) government borrowing; or<br />(v) the regulation of prices of goods or services, rents or wages, salaries or<br />other incomes; or<br />(c) a contemplated—<br />(i) sale or acquisition of immovable or movable property; or<br />(ii) international trade agreement.<br />(3) Subject to subsection (5), the information officer of a public body may refuse a<br />request for access to a record of the body if the record—<br />(a) contains trade secrets of the State or a public body;<br />(b) contains financial, commercial, scientific or technical information, other than<br />trade secrets, the disclosure of which would be likely to cause harm to the<br />commercial or financial interests of the State or a public body;<br />(c) contains information, the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected—<br />(i) to put a public body at a disadvantage in contractual or other<br />negotiations; or<br />(ii) to prejudice a public body in commercial competition; or<br />(d) is a computer program, as defined in section 1(1) of the Copyright Act, 1978<br />(Act No. 98 of 1978), owned by the State or a public body, except insofar as<br />it is required to give access to a record to which access is granted in terms of<br />this Act.<br />25<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55<br />60(4) The information referred to in subsection (2)(c)(i) includes, without limiting the<br />generality of that subsection, information about an agreement, or contemplated<br />agreement, to transfer any interest in or right to shares in the capital of a public body to<br />any person which is not a public body referred to in paragraph (a) or (b)(i) of the<br />definition of ‘‘public body’’.<br />(5) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (3) insofar as it consists of<br />information—<br />(a) already publicly available;<br />(b) about or owned by a public body, other than the public body to which the<br />request is made, which has consented in writing to its disclosure to the<br />requester concerned; or<br />(c) about the results of any product or environmental testing or other investigation<br />supplied by, carried out by or on behalf of a public body, and its disclosure<br />would reveal a serious public safety or environmental risk.<br />(6) For the purposes of subsection (5)(c), the results of any product or environmental<br />testing or other investigation do not include the results of preliminary testing or other<br />investigation conducted for the purpose of developing methods of testing or other<br />investigation.<br />(7) If a request for access to a record contemplated in subsection (5)(c) is granted and<br />the testing or other investigation was carried out by or on behalf of the public body from<br />which the record is requested, the information officer must at the same time as access to<br />the record is given, provide the requester with a written explanation of the methods used<br />in conducting the testing or other investigation.<br />Mandatory protection of research information of third party, and protection of<br />research information of public body<br />43. (1) The information officer of a public body must refuse a request for access to a<br />record of the body if the record contains information about research being or to be<br />carried out by or on behalf of a third party, the disclosure of which would be likely to<br />expose—<br />(a) the third party;<br />(b) a person that is or will be carrying out the research on behalf of the third party;<br />or<br />(c) the subject matter of the research,<br />to serious disadvantage.<br />(2) The information officer of a public body may refuse a request for access to a record<br />of the body if the record contains information about research being or to be carried out<br />by or on behalf of a public body, the disclosure of which would be likely to expose—<br />(a) the public body;<br />(b) a person that is or will be carrying out the research on behalf of the public<br />body; or<br />(c) the subject matter of the research,<br />to serious disadvantage.<br />Operations of public bodies<br />44. (1) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the information officer of a public body may<br />refuse a request for access to a record of the body—<br />(a) if the record contains—<br />(i) an opinion, advice, report or recommendation obtained or prepared; or<br />(ii) an account of a consultation, discussion or deliberation that has occurred,<br />including, but not limited to, minutes of a meeting,<br />for the purpose of assisting to formulate a policy or take a decision in the<br />exercise of a power or performance of a duty conferred or imposed by law; or<br />(b) if—<br />(i) the disclosure of the record could reasonably be expected to frustrate the<br />deliberative process in a public body or between public bodies by<br />inhibiting the candid—<br />(aa) communication of an opinion, advice, report or recommendation; or<br />(bb) conduct of a consultation, discussion or deliberation; or<br />26<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(ii) the disclosure of the record could, by premature disclosure of a policy or<br />contemplated policy, reasonably be expected to frustrate the success of<br />that policy.<br />(2) Subject to subsection (4), the information officer of a public body may refuse a<br />request for access to a record of the body if—<br />(a) the disclosure of the record could reasonably be expected to jeopardise the<br />effectiveness of a testing, examining or auditing procedure or method used by<br />a public body;<br />(b) the record contains evaluative material, whether or not the person who<br />supplied it is identified in the record, and the disclosure of the material would<br />breach an express or implied promise which was—<br />(i) made to the person who supplied the material; and<br />(ii) to the effect that the material or the identity of the person who supplied<br />it, or both, would be held in confidence; or<br />(c) the record contains a preliminary, working or other draft of an official of a<br />public body.<br />(3) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (1) if the record came into<br />existence more than 20 years before the request concerned.<br />(4) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (1) or (2) insofar as it consists<br />of an account of, or a statement of reasons required to be given in accordance with<br />section 5 of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000.<br />Manifestly frivolous or vexatious requests, or substantial and unreasonable<br />diversion of resources<br />45. The information officer of a public body may refuse a request for access to a<br />record of the body if—<br />(a) the request is manifestly frivolous or vexatious; or<br />(b) the work involved in processing the request would substantially and<br />unreasonably divert the resources of the public body.<br />Mandatory disclosure in public interest<br />46. Despite any other provision of this Chapter, the information officer of a public<br />body must grant a request for access to a record of the body contemplated in section<br />34(1), 36(1), 37(1)(a) or (b), 38(a) or (b), 39(1)(a) or (b), 40, 41(1)(a) or (b), 42(1) or<br />(3), 43(1) or (2), 44(1) or (2) or 45, if—<br />(a) the disclosure of the record would reveal evidence of—<br />(i) a substantial contravention of, or failure to comply with, the law; or<br />(ii) an imminent and serious public safety or environmental risk; and<br />(b) the public interest in the disclosure of the record clearly outweighs the harm<br />contemplated in the provision in question.<br />CHAPTER 5<br />THIRD PARTY NOTIFICATION AND INTERVENTION<br />Notice to third parties<br />47. (1) The information officer of a public body considering a request for access to a<br />record that might be a record contemplated in section 34(1), 35(1), 36(1), 37(1) or 43(1)<br />must take all reasonable steps to inform a third party to whom or which the record relates<br />of the request.<br />(2) The information officer must inform a third party in terms of subsection (1)—<br />(a) as soon as reasonably possible, but in any event, within 21 days after that<br />request is received or transferred; and<br />(b) by the fastest means reasonably possible.<br />(3) When informing a third party in terms of subsection (1), the information officer<br />must—<br />(a) state that he or she is considering a request for access to a record that might be<br />a record contemplated in section 34(1), 35(1), 36(1), 37(1) or 43(1), as the<br />case may be, and describe the content of the record;<br />(b) furnish the name of the requester;<br />27<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(c) describe the provisions of section 34(1), 35(1), 36(1), 37(1) or 43(1), as the<br />case may be;<br />(d) in any case where the information officer believes that the provisions of<br />section 46 might apply, describe those provisions, specify which of the<br />circumstances referred to in section 46(a) in the opinion of the information<br />officer might apply and state the reasons why he or she is of the opinion that<br />section 46 might apply; and<br />(e) state that the third party may, within 21 days after the third party is informed—<br />(i) make written or oral representations to the information officer why the<br />request for access should be refused; or<br />(ii) give written consent for the disclosure of the record to the requester.<br />(4) If a third party is not informed orally of a request for access in terms of subsection<br />(1), the information officer must give a written notice stating the matters referred to in<br />subsection (3) to the third party.<br />Representations and consent by third parties<br />48. (1) A third party that is informed in terms of section 47(1) of a request for access,<br />may, within 21 days after the third party has been informed—<br />(a) make written or oral representations to the information officer concerned why<br />the request should be refused; or<br />(b) give written consent for the disclosure of the record to the requester<br />concerned.<br />(2) A third party that obtains knowledge about a request for access other than in terms<br />of section 47(1) may—<br />(a) make written or oral representations to the information officer concerned why<br />the request should be refused; or<br />(b) give written consent for the disclosure of the record to the requester<br />concerned.<br />Decision on representations for refusal and notice thereof<br />49. (1) The information officer of a public body must, as soon as reasonably possible,<br />but in any event within 30 days after every third party is informed as required by section<br />47—<br />(a) decide, after giving due regard to any representations made by a third party in<br />terms of section 48, whether to grant the request for access; and<br />(b) notify the third party so informed and a third party not informed in terms of<br />section 47(1), but that made representations in terms of section 48 or is located<br />before the decision is taken, of the decision.<br />(2) If, after all reasonable steps have been taken as required by section 47(1), a third<br />party is not informed of the request in question and the third party did not make any<br />representations in terms of section 48, any decision whether to grant the request for<br />access must be made with due regard to the fact that the third party did not have the<br />opportunity to make representations in terms of section 48 why the request should be<br />refused.<br />(3) If the request for access is granted, the notice in terms of subsection (1)(b) must<br />state—<br />(a) adequate reasons for granting the request, including the provisions of this Act<br />relied upon;<br />(b) that the third party may lodge an internal appeal or an application, as the case<br />may be, against the decision within 30 days after notice is given, and the<br />procedure for lodging the internal appeal or application, as the case may be;<br />and<br />(c) that the requester will be given access to the record after the expiry of the<br />applicable period contemplated in paragraph (b), unless such internal appeal<br />or application with a court is lodged within that period.<br />(4) If the information officer of a public body decides in terms of subsection (1) to<br />grant the request for access concerned, he or she must give the requester access to the<br />record concerned after the expiry of 30 days after notice is given in terms of subsection<br />(1)(b), unless an internal appeal or an application with a court, as the case may be, is<br />lodged against the decision within that period.<br />28<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55PART 3<br />ACCESS TO RECORDS OF PRIVATE BODIES<br />CHAPTER 1<br />RIGHT OF ACCESS<br />Right of access to records of private bodies<br />50. (1) A requester must be given access to any record of a private body if—<br />(a) that record is required for the exercise or protection of any rights;<br />(b) that person complies with the procedural requirements in this Act relating to<br />a request for access to that record; and<br />(c) access to that record is not refused in terms of any ground for refusal<br />contemplated in Chapter 4 of this Part.<br />(2) In addition to the requirements referred to in subsection (1), when a public body,<br />referred to in paragraph (a) or (b)(i) of the definition of ‘‘public body’’ in section 1,<br />requests access to a record of a private body for the exercise or protection of any rights,<br />other than its rights, it must be acting in the public interest.<br />(3) A request contemplated in subsection (1) includes a request for access to a record<br />containing personal information about the requester or the person on whose behalf the<br />request is made.<br />CHAPTER 2<br />PUBLICATION AND AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN RECORDS<br />Manual<br />51. (1) Within six months after the commencement of this section or the coming into<br />existence of the private body concerned, the head of a private body must compile a<br />manual containing—<br />(a) the postal and street address, phone and fax number and, if available,<br />electronic mail address of the head of the body;<br />(b) a description of the guide referred to in section 10, if available, and how to<br />obtain access to it;<br />(c) the latest notice in terms of section 52(2), if any, regarding the categories of<br />record of the body which are available without a person having to request<br />access in terms of this Act;<br />(d) a description of the records of the body which are available in accordance with<br />any other legislation;<br />(e) sufficient detail to facilitate a request for access to a record of the body, a<br />description of the subjects on which the body holds records and the categories<br />of records held on each subject; and<br />(f) such other information as may be prescribed.<br />(2) The head of a private body must on a regular basis update the manual referred to<br />in subsection (1).<br />(3) Each manual must be made available as prescribed.<br />(4) For security, administrative or financial reasons, the Minister may, on request or of<br />his or her own accord, by notice in the Gazette, exempt any private body or category of<br />private bodies from any provision of this section for such period as the Minister thinks<br />fit.<br />Voluntary disclosure and automatic availability of certain records<br />52. (1) The head of a private body may, on a voluntary and periodic basis, submit to<br />the Minister a description of—<br />(a) the categories of records of the private body that are automatically available<br />without a person having to request access in terms of this Act, including such<br />categories available—<br />(i) for inspection in terms of legislation other than this Act;<br />(ii) for purchase or copying from the private body;<br />(iii) from the private body free of charge; and<br />(b) how to obtain access to such records.<br />(2) If appropriate the Minister must, on a periodic basis and by notice in the Gazette—<br />(a) publish any description so submitted; and<br />29<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(b) update any description so published.<br />(3) The only fee payable (if any) for access to a record described in a list so published<br />is a prescribed fee for reproduction.<br />(4) The head of a private body may delete any part of a record contemplated in<br />subsection (1)(a) which, on a request for access, may or must be refused in terms of<br />Chapter 4 of this Part.<br />(5) Section 50 and any other provisions in this Act related to that section do not apply<br />to any category of records included in a notice in terms of subsection (2).<br />CHAPTER 3<br />MANNER OF ACCESS<br />Form of request<br />53. (1) A request for access to a record of a private body must be made in the<br />prescribed form to the private body concerned at its address, fax number or electronic<br />mail address.<br />(2) The form for a request for access prescribed for the purposes of subsection (1)<br />must at least require the requester concerned—<br />(a) to provide sufficient particulars to enable the head of the private body<br />concerned to identify—<br />(i) the record or records requested; and<br />(ii) the requester;<br />(b) to indicate which form of access is required;<br />(c) to specify a postal address or fax number of the requester in the Republic;<br />(d) to identify the right the requester is seeking to exercise or protect and provide<br />an explanation of why the requested record is required for the exercise or<br />protection of that right;<br />(e) if, in addition to a written reply, the requester wishes to be informed of the<br />decision on the request in any other manner, to state that manner and the<br />necessary particulars to be so informed; and<br />(f) if the request is made on behalf of a person, to submit proof of the capacity in<br />which the requester is making the request, to the reasonable satisfaction of the<br />head.<br />Fees<br />54. (1) The head of a private body to whom a request for access is made must by<br />notice require the requester, other than a personal requester, to pay the prescribed<br />request fee (if any), before further processing the request.<br />(2) If—<br />(a) the search for a record of a private body in respect of which a request for<br />access by a requester, other than a personal requester, has been made; and<br />(b) the preparation of the record for disclosure (including any arrangements<br />contemplated in section 29(2)(a) and (b)(i) and (ii)(aa)),<br />would, in the opinion of the head of the private body concerned, require more than the<br />hours prescribed for this purpose for requesters, the head must by notice require the<br />requester, other than a personal requester, to pay as a deposit the prescribed portion<br />(being not more than one third) of the access fee which would be payable if the request<br />is granted.<br />(3) The notice referred to in subsection (1) or (2) must state—<br />(a) the amount of the deposit payable in terms of subsection (2), if applicable;<br />(b) that the requester may lodge an application with a court against the tender or<br />payment of the request fee in terms of subsection (1), or the tender or payment<br />of a deposit in terms of subsection (2), as the case may be; and<br />(c) the procedure (including the period) for lodging the application.<br />(4) If a deposit has been paid in respect of a request for access which is refused, the<br />head of the private body concerned must repay the deposit to the requester.<br />(5) The head of a private body may withhold a record until the requester concerned<br />has paid the applicable fees (if any).<br />(6) A requester whose request for access to a record of a private body has been granted<br />must pay an access fee for reproduction and for search and preparation contemplated in<br />subsection (7)(a) and (b), respectively, for any time reasonably required in excess of the<br />30<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55prescribed hours to search for and prepare (including making any arrangements<br />contemplated in section 29(2)(a) and (b)(i) and (ii)(aa)) the record for disclosure.<br />(7) Access fees prescribed for the purposes of subsection (6) must provide for a<br />reasonable access fee for—<br />(a) the cost of making a copy of a record, or of a transcription of the content of a<br />record, as contemplated in section 29(2)(a) and (b)(i), (ii)(bb), (iii) and (v)<br />and, if applicable, the postal fee; and<br />(b) the time reasonably required to search for the record and prepare (including<br />making any arrangements contemplated in section 29(2)(a) and (b)(i) and<br />(ii)(aa)) the record for disclosure to the requester.<br />(8) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette—<br />(a) exempt any person or category of persons from paying any fee referred to in<br />this section;<br />(b) determine that any fee referred to in this section is not to exceed a certain<br />maximum amount;<br />(c) determine the manner in which any fee referred to in this section is to be<br />calculated;<br />(d) determine that any fee referred to in this section does not apply to a category<br />of records;<br />(e) exempt any person or record or category of persons or records for a stipulated<br />period from any fee referred to in subsection (6); and<br />(f) determine that where the cost of collecting any fee referred to in this section<br />exceeds the amount charged, such fee does not apply.<br />Records that cannot be found or do not exist<br />55. (1) If—<br />(a) all reasonable steps have been taken to find a record requested; and<br />(b) there are reasonable grounds for believing that the record—<br />(i) is in the private body’s possession but cannot be found; or<br />(ii) does not exist,<br />the head of a private body must, by way of affidavit or affirmation, notify the requester<br />that it is not possible to give access to that record.<br />(2) The affidavit or affirmation referred to in subsection (1) must give a full account<br />of all steps taken to find the record in question or to determine whether the record exists,<br />as the case may be, including all communications with every person who conducted the<br />search on behalf of the head.<br />(3) For the purposes of this Act, the notice in terms of subsection (1) is to be regarded<br />as a decision to refuse a request for access to the record concerned.<br />(4) If, after notice is given in terms of subsection (1), the record in question is found,<br />the requester concerned must be given access to the record unless access is refused on<br />a ground for refusal contemplated in Chapter 4 of this Part.<br />Decision on request and notice thereof<br />56. (1) Subject to Chapter 5 of this Part, the head of the private body to whom the<br />request is made must, as soon as reasonably possible, but in any event within 30 days,<br />after the request has been received or after the particulars required in terms of section<br />53(2) have been received—<br />(a) decide in accordance with this Act whether to grant the request; and<br />(b) notify the requester of the decision and, if the requester stated, as<br />contemplated in section 53(2)(e), that he or she wishes to be informed of the<br />decision in any other manner, inform him or her in that manner if it is<br />reasonably possible.<br />(2) If the request for access is granted, the notice in terms of subsection (1)(b) must<br />state—<br />(a) the access fee (if any) to be paid upon access;<br />(b) the form in which access will be given; and<br />(c) that the requester may lodge an application with a court against the access fee<br />to be paid or the form of access granted, and the procedure for lodging the<br />application.<br />(3) If the request for access is refused, the notice in terms of subsection (1)(b) must—<br />(a) state adequate reasons for the refusal, including the provisions of this Act<br />relied on;<br />31<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55<br />60(b) exclude, from any such reasons, any reference to the content of the record; and<br />(c) state that the requester may lodge an application with a court against the<br />refusal of the request, and the procedure (including the period) for lodging the<br />application.<br />Extension of period to deal with request<br />57. (1) The head of a private body to whom a request for access has been made, may<br />extend the period of 30 days referred to in section 56(1) (in this section referred to as the<br />‘‘original period’’) once for a further period of not more than 30 days, if—<br />(a) the request is for a large number of records or requires a search through a large<br />number of records and compliance with the original period would unreasonably interfere with the activities of the private body concerned;<br />(b) the request requires a search for records in, or collection thereof from, an<br />office of the private body not situated in the same town or city as the office of<br />the head that cannot reasonably be completed within the original period;<br />(c) consultation among divisions of the private body or with another private body<br />is necessary or desirable to decide upon the request that cannot reasonably be<br />completed within the original period;<br />(d) more than one of the circumstances contemplated in paragraphs (a), (b) and<br />(c) exist in respect of the request making compliance with the original period<br />not reasonably possible; or<br />(e) the requester consents in writing to such extension.<br />(2) If a period is extended in terms of subsection (1), the head of the private body<br />must, as soon as reasonably possible, but in any event within 30 days, after the request<br />is received, notify the requester of that extension, the period of the extension and the<br />reasons for the extension.<br />(3) The notice in terms of subsection (2) must state—<br />(a) the period of the extension;<br />(b) adequate reasons for the extension, including the provisions of this Act relied<br />upon; and<br />(c) that the requester may lodge an application with a court against the extension,<br />and the procedure (including the period) for lodging the application.<br />Deemed refusal of request<br />58. If the head of a private body fails to give the decision on a request for access to the<br />requester concerned within the period contemplated in section 56(1), the head of the<br />private body is, for the purposes of this Act, regarded as having refused the request.<br />Severability<br />59. (1) If a request for access is made to a record of a private body containing<br />information which may or must be refused in terms of any provision of Chapter 4 of this<br />Part, every part of the record which—<br />(a) does not contain; and<br />(b) can reasonably be severed from any part that contains,<br />any such information must, despite any other provision of this Act, be disclosed.<br />(2) If a request for access to—<br />(a) a part of a record is granted; and<br />(b) the other part of the record is refused,<br />as contemplated in subsection (1), the provisions of section 56(2) apply to paragraph (a)<br />of this section and the provisions of section 56(3) to paragraph (b) of this section.<br />Form of access<br />60. If access is granted to a record of a private body, the head of that body must, as<br />soon as reasonably possible after notification in terms of section 56, but subject to<br />section 57, give access in—<br />(a) such form as the requester reasonably requires; or<br />(b) if no specific form of access is required by the requester, such form as the head<br />reasonably determines.<br />32<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55Access to health or other records<br />61. (1) If the head of a private body who grants, in terms of section 50, a request for<br />access to a record provided by a health practitioner in his or her capacity as such about<br />the physical or mental health, or well-being—<br />(a) of the requester; or<br />(b) if the request has been made on behalf of the person to whom the record<br />relates, of that person,<br />(in this section, the requester and person referred to paragraphs (a) and (b), respectively,<br />are referred to as the ‘‘relevant person’’), is of the opinion that the disclosure of the<br />record to the relevant person might cause serious harm to his or her physical or mental<br />health, or well-being, the information officer may, before giving access in terms of<br />section 60, consult with a health practitioner who, subject to subsection (2), has been<br />nominated by the relevant person.<br />(2) If the relevant person is—<br />(a) under the age of 16 years, a person having parental responsibilities for the<br />relevant person must make the nomination contemplated in subsection (1); or<br />(b) incapable of managing his or her affairs, a person appointed by the court to<br />manage those affairs must make that nomination.<br />(3)(a) If, after being given access to the record concerned, the health practitioner<br />consulted in terms of subsection (1) is of the opinion that the disclosure of the record to<br />the relevant person, would be likely to cause serious harm to his or her physical or<br />mental health, or well-being, the head may only give access to the record if the requester<br />proves to the satisfaction of the head that adequate provision is made for such<br />counselling or arrangements as are reasonably practicable before, during or after the<br />disclosure of the record to limit, alleviate or avoid such harm to the relevant person.<br />(b) Before access to the record is so given to the requester, the person responsible for<br />such counselling or arrangements must be given access to the record.<br />CHAPTER 4<br />GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL OF ACCESS TO RECORDS<br />Interpretation<br />62. A provision of this Chapter in terms of which a request for access to a record must<br />or may or may not be refused, must not be construed as—<br />(a) limited in its application in any way by any other provision of this Chapter in<br />terms of which a request for access to a record must or may or may not be<br />refused; and<br />(b) not applying to a particular record by reason that another provision of this<br />Chapter in terms of which a request for access to a record must or may or may<br />not be refused, also applies to that record.<br />Mandatory protection of privacy of third party who is natural person<br />63. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the head of a private body must refuse a request for<br />access to a record of the body if its disclosure would involve the unreasonable disclosure<br />of personal information about a third party, including a deceased individual.<br />(2) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (1) insofar as it consists of<br />information—<br />(a) about an individual who has consented in terms of section 72 or otherwise in<br />writing to its disclosure to the requester concerned;<br />(b) already publicly available;<br />(c) that was given to the private body by the individual to whom it relates and the<br />individual was informed by or on behalf of the private body, before it is given,<br />that the information belongs to a class of information that would or might be<br />made available to the public;<br />(d) about an individual’s physical or mental health, or well-being, who is under<br />the care of the requester and who is—<br />(i) under the age of 18 years; or<br />(ii) incapable of understanding the nature of the request,<br />and if giving access would be in the individual’s best interests;<br />(e) about an individual who is deceased and the requester is—<br />33<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(i) the individual’s next of kin; or<br />(ii) making the request with the written consent of the individual’s next of<br />kin; or<br />(f) about an individual who is or was an official of a private body and which<br />relates to the position or functions of the individual, including, but not limited<br />to—<br />(i) the fact that the individual is or was an official of that private body;<br />(ii) the title, work address, work phone number and other similar particulars<br />of the individual;<br />(iii) the classification, salary scale or remuneration and responsibilities of the<br />position held or services performed by the individual; and<br />(iv) the name of the individual on a record prepared by the individual in the<br />course of employment.<br />Mandatory protection of commercial information of third party<br />64. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the head of a private body must refuse a request for<br />access to a record of the body if the record contains—<br />(a) trade secrets of a third party;<br />(b) financial, commercial, scientific or technical information, other than trade<br />secrets, of a third party, the disclosure of which would be likely to cause harm<br />to the commercial or financial interests of that third party; or<br />(c) information supplied in confidence by a third party, the disclosure of which<br />could reasonably be expected—<br />(i) to put that third party at a disadvantage in contractual or other<br />negotiations; or<br />(ii) to prejudice that third party in commercial competition.<br />(2) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (1) insofar as it consists of<br />information about—<br />(a) a third party who has consented in terms of section 72 or otherwise in writing<br />to its disclosure to the requester concerned;<br />(b) the results of any product or environmental testing or other investigation<br />supplied by, carried out by or on behalf of a third party and its disclosure<br />would reveal a serious public safety or environmental risk.<br />(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b), the results of any product or environmental<br />testing or other investigation do not include the results of preliminary testing or other<br />investigation conducted for the purpose of developing methods of testing or other<br />investigation.<br />Mandatory protection of certain confidential information of third party<br />65. The head of a private body must refuse a request for access to a record of the body<br />if its disclosure would constitute an action for breach of a duty of confidence owed to a<br />third party in terms of an agreement.<br />Mandatory protection of safety of individuals, and protection of property<br />66. The head of a private body—<br />(a) must refuse a request for access to a record of the body if its disclosure could<br />reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of an individual;<br />or<br />(b) may refuse a request for access to a record of the body if its disclosure would<br />be likely to prejudice or impair—<br />(i) the security of—<br />(aa) a building, structure or system, including, but not limited to, a<br />computer or communication system;<br />(bb) a means of transport; or<br />(cc) any other property; or<br />(ii) methods, systems, plans or procedures for the protection of—<br />(aa) an individual in accordance with a witness protection scheme;<br />(bb) the safety of the public, or any part of the public; or<br />34<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(cc) the security of property contemplated in subparagraph (i)(aa), (bb)<br />or (cc).<br />Mandatory protection of records privileged from production in legal proceedings<br />67. The head of a private body must refuse a request for access to a record of the body<br />if the record is privileged from production in legal proceedings unless the person entitled<br />to the privilege has waived the privilege.<br />Commercial information of private body<br />68. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the head of a private body may refuse a request for<br />access to a record of the body if the record—<br />(a) contains trade secrets of the private body;<br />(b) contains financial, commercial, scientific or technical information, other than<br />trade secrets, of the private body, the disclosure of which would be likely to<br />cause harm to the commercial or financial interests of the body;<br />(c) contains information, the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected—<br />(i) to put the private body at a disadvantage in contractual or other<br />negotiations; or<br />(ii) to prejudice the body in commercial competition; or<br />(d) is a computer program, as defined in section 1(1) of the Copyright Act, 1978<br />(Act No. 98 of 1978), owned by the private body, except insofar as it is<br />required to give access to a record to which access is granted in terms of this<br />Act.<br />(2) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (1) insofar as it consists of<br />information about the results of any product or environmental testing or other<br />investigation supplied by, carried out by or on behalf of the private body and its<br />disclosure would reveal a serious public safety or environmental risk.<br />(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the results of any product or environmental<br />testing or other investigation do not include the results of preliminary testing or other<br />investigation conducted for the purpose of developing methods of testing or other<br />investigation.<br />Mandatory protection of research information of third party, and protection of<br />research information of private body<br />69. (1) The head of a private body must refuse a request for access to a record of the<br />body if the record contains information about research being or to be carried out by or<br />on behalf of a third party, the disclosure of which would be likely to expose—<br />(a) the third party;<br />(b) a person that is or will be carrying out the research on behalf of the third party;<br />or<br />(c) the subject matter of the research,<br />to serious disadvantage.<br />(2) The head of a private body may refuse a request for access to a record of the body<br />if the record contains information about research being or to be carried out by or on<br />behalf of the private body, the disclosure of which would be likely to expose—<br />(a) the private body;<br />(b) a person that is or will be carrying out the research on behalf of the private<br />body; or<br />(c) the subject matter of the research,<br />to serious disadvantage.<br />Mandatory disclosure in public interest<br />70. Despite any other provision of this Chapter, the head of a private body must grant<br />a request for access to a record of the body contemplated in section 63(1), 64(1), 65,<br />66(a) or (b), 67, 68(1) or 69(1) or (2) if—<br />(a) the disclosure of the record would reveal evidence of—<br />(i) a substantial contravention of, or failure to comply with, the law; or<br />(ii) imminent and serious public safety or environmental risk; and<br />(b) the public interest in the disclosure of the record clearly outweighs the harm<br />contemplated in the provision in question.<br />35<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55CHAPTER 5<br />THIRD PARTY NOTIFICATION AND INTERVENTION<br />Notice to third parties<br />71. (1) The head of a private body considering a request for access to a record that<br />might be a record contemplated in section 63(1), 64(1), 65 or 69(1), must take all<br />reasonable steps to inform a third party to whom or which the record relates of the<br />request.<br />(2) The head must inform a third party in terms of subsection (1)—<br />(a) as soon as reasonably possible, but in any event within 21 days after that<br />request is received; and<br />(b) by the fastest means reasonably possible.<br />(3) When informing a third party in terms of subsection (1), the head must—<br />(a) state that he or she is considering a request for access to a record that might be<br />a record contemplated in section 63(1), 64(1), 65 or 69(1), as the case may be,<br />and describe the content of the record;<br />(b) furnish the name of the requester;<br />(c) describe the provisions of section 63(1), 64(1), 65 or 69(1), as the case may<br />be;<br />(d) in any case where the head believes that the provisions of section 70 might<br />apply, describe those provisions, specify which of the circumstances referred<br />to in section 70(a) in the opinion of the head might apply and state the reasons<br />why he or she is of the opinion that section 70 might apply; and<br />(e) state that the third party may, within 21 days after the third party is<br />informed—<br />(i) make written or oral representations to the head why the request for<br />access should be refused; or<br />(ii) give written consent for the disclosure of the record to the requester.<br />(4) If a third party is informed orally of a request for access in terms of subsection (1),<br />the head must give a written notice stating the matters referred to in subsection (3) to the<br />third party.<br />Representations and consent by third parties<br />72. (1) A third party that is informed in terms of section 71(1) of a request for access,<br />may, within 21 days after being so informed—<br />(a) make written or oral representations to the head concerned why the request<br />should be refused; or<br />(b) give written consent for the disclosure of the record to the requester<br />concerned.<br />(2) A third party that obtains knowledge about a request for access other than in terms<br />of section 71(1) may—<br />(a) make written or oral representations to the head concerned why the request<br />should be refused; or<br />(b) give written consent for the disclosure of the record to the requester<br />concerned.<br />Decision on representations for refusal and notice thereof<br />73. (1) The head of a private body must, as soon as reasonably possible, but in any<br />event within 30 days after every third party is informed as required by section 71—<br />(a) decide, after giving due regard to any representations made by a third party in<br />terms of section 72, whether to grant the request for access; and<br />(b) notify the third party so informed and a third party not informed in terms of<br />section 71, but that made representations in terms of section 72 or is located<br />before the decision is taken, of the decision.<br />(2) If, after all reasonable steps have been taken as required by section 71, a third party<br />is not informed of a request, any decision whether to grant the request for access must<br />be made with due regard to the fact that the third party did not have the opportunity to<br />make representations in terms of section 72 why the request should be refused.<br />(3) If the request is granted, the notice in terms of subsection (1)(b) must state—<br />36<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(a) adequate reasons for granting the request, including the provisions of this Act<br />relied upon to justify the granting;<br />(b) that the third party may lodge an application with a court against the decision<br />of the head within 30 days after notice is given, and the procedure for lodging<br />the application; and<br />(c) that the requester will be given access to the record after the expiry of the<br />applicable period contemplated in paragraph (b), unless an application with a<br />court is lodged within that period.<br />(4) If the head of the private body decides in terms of subsection (1) to grant the<br />request for access concerned, he or she must give the requester access to the record<br />concerned after the expiry of 30 days after notice is given in terms of subsection (1)(b),<br />unless an application with a court is lodged against the decision within that period.<br />PART 4<br />APPEALS AGAINST DECISIONS<br />CHAPTER 1<br />INTERNAL APPEALS AGAINST DECISIONS OF INFORMATION OFFICERS<br />OF CERTAIN PUBLIC BODIES<br />Right of internal appeal to relevant authority<br />74. (1) A requester may lodge an internal appeal against a decision of the information<br />officer of a public body referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of ‘‘public body’’ in<br />section 1—<br />(a) to refuse a request for access; or<br />(b) taken in terms of section 22, 26(1) or 29(3),<br />in relation to that requester with the relevant authority.<br />(2) A third party may lodge an internal appeal against a decision of the information<br />officer of a public body referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of ‘‘public body’’ in<br />section 1 to grant a request for access.<br />Manner of internal appeal, and appeal fees<br />75. (1) An internal appeal—<br />(a) must be lodged in the prescribed form—<br />(i) within 60 days;<br />(ii) if notice to a third party is required by section 49(1)(b), within 30 days<br />after notice is given to the appellant of the decision appealed against or,<br />if notice to the appellant is not required, after the decision was taken;<br />(b) must be delivered or sent to the information officer of the public body<br />concerned at his or her address, fax number or electronic mail address;<br />(c) must identify the subject of the internal appeal and state the reasons for the<br />internal appeal and may include any other relevant information known to the<br />appellant;<br />(d) if, in addition to a written reply, the appellant wishes to be informed of the<br />decision on the internal appeal in any other manner, must state that manner<br />and provide the necessary particulars to be so informed;<br />(e) if applicable, must be accompanied by the prescribed appeal fee referred to in<br />subsection (3); and<br />(f) must specify a postal address or fax number.<br />(2)(a) If an internal appeal is lodged after the expiry of the period referred to in<br />subsection (1)(a), the relevant authority must, upon good cause shown, allow the late<br />lodging of the internal appeal.<br />(b) If that relevant authority disallows the late lodging of the internal appeal, he or she<br />must give notice of that decision to the person that lodged the internal appeal.<br />(3)(a) A requester lodging an internal appeal against the refusal of his or her request<br />for access must pay the prescribed appeal fee (if any).<br />(b) If the prescribed appeal fee is payable in respect of an internal appeal, the decision<br />on the internal appeal may be deferred until the fee is paid.<br />(4) As soon as reasonably possible, but in any event within 10 working days after<br />receipt of an internal appeal in accordance with subsection (1), the information officer of<br />the public body concerned must submit to the relevant authority—<br />37<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(a) the internal appeal together with his or her reasons for the decision concerned;<br />and<br />(b) if the internal appeal is against the refusal or granting of a request for access,<br />the name, postal address, phone and fax number and electronic mail address,<br />whichever is available, of any third party that must be notified in terms of<br />section 47(1) of the request.<br />Notice to and representations by other interested persons<br />76. (1) If a relevant authority is considering an internal appeal against the refusal of<br />a request for access to a record contemplated in section 34(1), 35(1), 36(1), 37(1) or<br />43(1), the authority must inform the third party to whom or which the record relates of<br />the internal appeal, unless all necessary steps to locate the third party have been<br />unsuccessful.<br />(2) The relevant authority must inform a third party in terms of subsection (1)—<br />(a) as soon as reasonably possible, but in any event within 30 days after the<br />receipt of the internal appeal; and<br />(b) by the fastest means reasonably possible.<br />(3) When informing a third party in terms of subsection (1), the relevant authority<br />must—<br />(a) state that he or she is considering an internal appeal against the refusal of a<br />request for access to a record contemplated in section 34(1), 35(1), 36(1),<br />37(1) or 43(1), as the case may be, and describe the content of the record and<br />the provisions of section 34(1), 35(1), 36(1), 37(1) or 43(1), as the case may<br />be;<br />(b) furnish the name of the appellant;<br />(c) in any case where that authority believes that the provisions of section 46<br />might apply, describe those provisions, specify which of the circumstances<br />referred to in section 46(a) in the opinion of the head might apply and state the<br />reasons why he or she is of the opinion that section 46 might apply; and<br />(d) state that the third party may, within 21 days after the third party is informed,<br />make written representations to that authority why the request for access<br />should not be granted.<br />(4) If a third party is informed orally of an internal appeal in terms of subsection (1),<br />the relevant authority must, on request, give a written notice stating the matters referred<br />to in subsection (3) to the third party.<br />(5) A third party that is informed of an internal appeal in terms of subsection (1), may<br />within 21 days after the third party has been informed, make written representations to<br />the relevant authority why the request for access should not be granted.<br />(6) A third party that obtains knowledge about an internal appeal other than in terms<br />of subsection (1) may—<br />(a) make written or oral representations to the relevant authority why the request<br />for access should be refused; or<br />(b) give written consent for the disclosure of the record to the requester<br />concerned.<br />(7) If the relevant authority is considering an internal appeal against the granting of a<br />request for access, the authority must give notice of the internal appeal to the requester<br />concerned.<br />(8) The relevant authority must—<br />(a) notify the requester concerned in terms of subsection (7) as soon as reasonably<br />possible, but in any event within 30 days after the receipt of the internal<br />appeal; and<br />(b) state in that notice that the third party may within 21 days after notice is given,<br />make written representations to that authority why that request should be<br />granted.<br />(9) A requester to whom or which notice is given in terms of subsection (7) may<br />within 21 days after that notice is given, make written representations to the relevant<br />authority why the request for access should be granted.<br />Decision on internal appeal and notice thereof<br />77. (1) The decision on an internal appeal must be made with due regard to—<br />(a) the particulars stated in the internal appeal in terms of section 75(1)(c);<br />38<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(b) any reasons submitted by the information officer in terms of section 75(4)(a);<br />(c) any representations made in terms of section 76(5), (6) or (9); and<br />(d) if a third party cannot be located as contemplated in section 76(1), the fact that<br />the third party did not have the opportunity to make representations in terms<br />of section 76(5) why the internal appeal should be dismissed.<br />(2) When deciding on the internal appeal the relevant authority may confirm the<br />decision appealed against or substitute a new decision for it.<br />(3) The relevant authority must decide on the internal appeal—<br />(a) as soon as reasonably possible, but in any event within 30 days after the<br />internal appeal is received by the information officer of the body;<br />(b) if a third party is informed in terms of section 76(1), as soon as reasonably<br />possible, but in any event within 30 days; or<br />(c) if notice is given in terms of section 76(7)—<br />(i) within five working days after the requester concerned has made written<br />representations in terms of section 76(9); or<br />(ii) in any other case within 30 days after notice is so given.<br />(4) The relevant authority must, immediately after the decision on an internal<br />appeal—<br />(a) give notice of the decision to—<br />(i) the appellant;<br />(ii) every third party informed as required by section 76(1); and<br />(iii) the requester notified as required by section 76(7); and<br />(b) if reasonably possible, inform the appellant about the decision in any other<br />manner stated in terms of section 75(1)(d).<br />(5) The notice in terms of subsection (4)(a) must—<br />(a) state adequate reasons for the decision, including the provision of this Act<br />relied upon;<br />(b) exclude, from such reasons, any reference to the content of the record;<br />(c) state that the appellant, third party or requester, as the case may be, may lodge<br />an application with a court against the decision on internal appeal—<br />(i) within 60 days; or<br />(ii) if notice to a third party is required by subsection (4)(a)(ii), within 30<br />days,<br />after notice is given, and the procedure for lodging the application; and<br />(d) if the relevant authority decides on internal appeal to grant a request for access<br />and notice to a third party—<br />(i) is not required by subsection (4)(a)(ii), that access to the record will<br />forthwith be given; or<br />(ii) is so required, that access to the record will be given after the expiry of<br />the applicable period for lodging an application with a court against the<br />decision on internal appeal referred to in paragraph (c), unless that<br />application is lodged before the end of that applicable period.<br />(6) If the relevant authority decides on internal appeal to grant a request for access and<br />notice to a third party—<br />(a) is not required by subsection (4)(a)(ii), the information officer of the body<br />must forthwith give the requester concerned access to the record concerned; or<br />(b) is so required, the information officer must, after the expiry of 30 days after the<br />notice is given to every third party concerned, give the requester access to the<br />record concerned, unless an application with a court is lodged against the<br />decision on internal appeal before the end of the period contemplated in<br />subsection (5)(c)(ii) for lodging that application.<br />(7) If the relevant authority fails to give notice of the decision on an internal appeal to<br />the appellant within the period contemplated in subsection (3), that authority is, for the<br />purposes of this Act, regarded as having dismissed the internal appeal.<br />CHAPTER 2<br />APPLICATIONS TO COURT<br />Applications regarding decisions of information officers or relevant authorities of<br />public bodies or heads of private bodies<br />78. (1) A requester or third party referred to in section 74 may only apply to a court<br />for appropriate relief in terms of section 82 after that requester or third party has<br />39<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55<br />60exhausted the internal appeal procedure against a decision of the information officer of<br />a public body provided for in section 74.<br />(2) A requester—<br />(a) that has been unsuccessful in an internal appeal to the relevant authority of a<br />public body;<br />(b) aggrieved by a decision of the relevant authority of a public body to disallow<br />the late lodging of an internal appeal in terms of section 75(2);<br />(c) aggrieved by a decision of the information officer of a public body referred to<br />in paragraph (b) of the definition of ‘‘public body’’ in section 1—<br />(i) to refuse a request for access; or<br />(ii) taken in terms of section 22, 26(1) or 29(3); or<br />(d) aggrieved by a decision of the head of a private body—<br />(i) to refuse a request for access; or<br />(ii) taken in terms of section 54, 57(1) or 60,<br />may, by way of an application, within 30 days apply to a court for appropriate relief in<br />terms of section 82.<br />(3) A third party—<br />(a) that has been unsuccessful in an internal appeal to the relevant authority of a<br />public body;<br />(b) aggrieved by a decision of the information officer of a public body referred to<br />in paragraph (b) of the definition of ‘‘public body’’ in section 1 to grant a<br />request for access; or<br />(c) aggrieved by a decision of the head of a private body in relation to a request<br />for access to a record of that body,<br />may, by way of an application, within 30 days apply to a court for appropriate relief in<br />terms of section 82.<br />Procedure<br />79. (1) The Rules Board for Courts of Law, established by section 2 of the Rules<br />Board for Courts of Law Act, 1985 (Act No. 107 of 1985), must within 12 months after<br />the commencement of this section, make and implement rules of procedure for—<br />(a) a court in respect of applications in terms of section 78; and<br />(b) a court to receive representations ex parte referred to in section 80(3)(a).<br />(2) Before the implementation of the rules of procedure in terms of subsection (1)(a),<br />an application in terms of section 78 may only be lodged with a High Court or another<br />court of similar status.<br />(3) Any rule made in terms of subsection (1) must, before publication in the Gazette,<br />be approved by Parliament.<br />Disclosure of records to, and non-disclosure by, court<br />80. (1) Despite this Act and any other law, any court hearing an application, or an<br />appeal against a decision on that application, may examine any record of a public or<br />private body to which this Act applies, and no such record may be withheld from the<br />court on any grounds.<br />(2) Any court contemplated in subsection (1) may not disclose to any person,<br />including the parties to the proceedings concerned, other than the public or private body<br />referred to in subsection (1)—<br />(a) any record of a public or private body which, on a request for access, may or<br />must be refused in terms of this Act; or<br />(b) if the information officer of a public body, or the relevant authority of that<br />body on internal appeal, in refusing to grant access to a record in terms of<br />section 39(3) or 41(4), refuses to confirm or deny the existence or<br />non-existence of the record, any information as to whether the record exists.<br />(3) Any court contemplated in subsection (1) may—<br />(a) receive representations ex parte;<br />(b) conduct hearings in camera; and<br />(c) prohibit the publication of such information in relation to the proceedings as<br />the court determines, including information in relation to the parties to the<br />proceedings and the contents of orders made by the court in the proceedings.<br />40<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55Proceedings are civil<br />81. (1) For the purposes of this Chapter proceedings on application in terms of section<br />78 are civil proceedings.<br />(2) The rules of evidence applicable in civil proceedings apply to proceedings on<br />application in terms of section 78.<br />(3) The burden of establishing that—<br />(a) the refusal of a request for access; or<br />(b) any decision taken in terms of section 22, 26(1), 29(3), 54, 57(1) or 60,<br />complies with the provisions of this Act rests on the party claiming that it so complies.<br />Decision on application<br />82. The court hearing an application may grant any order that is just and equitable,<br />including orders—<br />(a) confirming, amending or setting aside the decision which is the subject of the<br />application concerned;<br />(b) requiring from the information officer or relevant authority of a public body or<br />the head of a private body to take such action or to refrain from taking such<br />action as the court considers necessary within a period mentioned in the order;<br />(c) granting an interdict, interim or specific relief, a declaratory order or<br />compensation; or<br />(d) as to costs.<br />PART 5<br />HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION<br />Additional functions of Human Rights Commission<br />83. (1) The Human Rights Commission must—<br />(a) compile and make available a guide on how to use this Act as contemplated in<br />section 10; and<br />(b) submit reports to the National Assembly as contemplated in section 84.<br />(2) The Human Rights Commission must, to the extent that financial and other<br />resources are available—<br />(a) develop and conduct educational programmes to advance the understanding<br />of the public, in particular of disadvantaged communities, of this Act and of<br />how to exercise the rights contemplated in this Act;<br />(b) encourage public and private bodies to participate in the development and<br />conduct of programmes referred to in paragraph (a) and to undertake such<br />programmes themselves; and<br />(c) promote timely and effective dissemination of accurate information by public<br />bodies about their activities.<br />(3) The Human Rights Commission may—<br />(a) make recommendations for—<br />(i) the development, improvement, modernisation, reform or amendment of<br />this Act or other legislation or common law having a bearing on access to<br />information held by public and private bodies, respectively; and<br />(ii) procedures in terms of which public and private bodies make information<br />electronically available;<br />(b) monitor the implementation of this Act;<br />(c) if reasonably possible, on request, assist any person wishing to exercise a right<br />contemplated in this Act;<br />(d) recommend to a public or private body that the body make such changes in the<br />manner in which it administers this Act as the Commission considers<br />advisable;<br />(e) train information officers of public bodies;<br />(f) consult with and receive reports from public and private bodies on the<br />problems encountered in complying with this Act;<br />(g) obtain advice from, consult with, or receive and consider proposals or<br />recommendations from, any public or private body, official of such a body or<br />member of the public in connection with the Commission’s functions in terms<br />of this Act;<br />41<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55(h) for the purposes of section 84(b)(x), request the Public Protector to submit to<br />the Commission information with respect to—<br />(i) the number of complaints lodged with the Public Protector in respect of<br />a right conferred or duty imposed by this Act;<br />(ii) the nature and outcome of those complaints; and<br />(i) generally, inquire into any matter, including any legislation, the common law<br />and any practice and procedure, connected with the objects of this Act.<br />(4) For the purpose of the annual report referred to in section 84 and if so requested<br />by the Human Rights Commission, the head of a private body may furnish to that<br />Commission information about requests for access to records of the body.<br />(5) If appropriate, and if financial and other resources are available, an official of a<br />public body must afford the Human Rights Commission reasonable assistance for the<br />effective performance of its functions in terms of this Act.<br />Report to National Assembly by Human Rights Commission<br />84. The Human Rights Commission must include in its annual report to the National<br />Assembly referred to in section 181(5) of the Constitution—<br />(a) any recommendation in terms of section 83(3)(a); and<br />(b) in relation to each public body, particulars of—<br />(i) the number of requests for access received;<br />(ii) the number of requests for access granted in full;<br />(iii) the number of requests for access granted in terms of section 46;<br />(iv) the number of requests for access refused in full and refused partially and<br />the number of times each provision of this Act was relied on to refuse<br />access in full or partially;<br />(v) the number of cases in which the periods stipulated in section 25(1) were<br />extended in terms of section 26(1);<br />(vi) the number of internal appeals lodged with the relevant authority and the<br />number of cases in which, as a result of an internal appeal, access was<br />given to a record or a part thereof;<br />(vii) the number of internal appeals which were lodged on the ground that a<br />request for access was regarded as having been refused in terms of<br />section 27;<br />(viii) the number of applications made to every court and the outcome thereof<br />and the number of decisions of every court appealed against and the<br />outcome thereof;<br />(ix) the number of applications to every court which were lodged on the<br />ground that an internal appeal was regarded as having been dismissed in<br />terms of section 77(7);<br />(x) the number of complaints lodged with the Public Protector in respect of<br />a right conferred or duty imposed by this Act and the nature and outcome<br />thereof; and<br />(xi) such other matters as may be prescribed.<br />Expenditure of Human Rights Commission in terms of Act<br />85. Any expenditure in connection with the performance of the Human Rights<br />Commission’s functions in terms of this Act must be defrayed from moneys<br />appropriated by Parliament to that Commission for that purpose.<br />PART 6<br />TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS<br />Application of other legislation providing for access<br />86. (1) The Minister must, within 12 months after the commencement of section 6,<br />introduce a Bill in Parliament proposing the amendment of—<br />(a) Part 1 of the Schedule to include the provisions of legislation which provide<br />for or promote access to a record of a public body; and<br />(b) Part 2 of the Schedule to include the provisions of legislation which provide<br />for or promote access to a record of a private body.<br />(2) Until the amendment of this Act contemplated in subsection (1) takes effect, any<br />other legislation not referred to in the Schedule which provides for access to a record of<br />42<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50<br />55a public body or a private body in a manner which, including, but not limited to, the<br />payment of fees, is not materially more onerous than the manner in which access may be<br />obtained in terms of Part 2 or 3 of this Act, respectively, access may be given in terms<br />of that legislation.<br />Extended periods for dealing with requests during first two years<br />87. (1) For—<br />(a) 12 months from the date that Part 2 takes effect in respect of a public body, the<br />reference to—<br />(i) 30 days in section 25(1) and any other reference to that period in other<br />provisions of this Act;<br />(ii) 30 days in section 49(1) and any other reference to that period in other<br />provisions of this Act,<br />must be construed as a reference to 90 days in respect of that public body; and<br />(b) 12 months following the 12 months referred to in paragraph (a), the reference<br />to—<br />(i) 30 days in section 25(1) and any other reference to that period in other<br />provisions of this Act;<br />(ii) 30 days in section 49(1) and any other reference to that period in other<br />provisions of this Act,<br />must be construed as a reference to 60 days in respect of the public body<br />concerned.<br />(2) The periods of 90 days and 60 days referred to in subsection (1)(a) and (b),<br />respectively, may not be extended in terms of section 26.<br />(3) Parliament must, after a period of 12 months, but within a period of 18 months,<br />after the commencement of this section, review the operation of this section.<br />Correction of personal information<br />88. If no provision for the correction of personal information in a record of a public<br />or private body exists, that public or private body must take reasonable steps to establish<br />adequate and appropriate internal measures providing for such correction until<br />legislation providing for such correction takes effect.<br />PART 7<br />GENERAL PROVISIONS<br />Liability<br />89. No person is criminally or civilly liable for anything done in good faith in the<br />exercise or performance or purported exercise or performance of any power or duty in<br />terms of this Act.<br />Offences<br />90. A person who with intent to deny a right of access in terms of this Act—<br />(a) destroys, damages or alters a record;<br />(b) conceals a record; or<br />(c) falsifies a record or makes a false record,<br />commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period<br />not exceeding two years.<br />Amendment of Public Protector Act 23 of 1994<br />91. Section 6 of the Public Protector Act, 1994 (Act No. 23 of 1994), is hereby<br />amended—<br />(a) by the substitution in paragraph (c) of subsection (4) for the expression<br />‘‘authority.’’ of the expression ‘‘authority; and’’; and<br />(b) by the addition to subsection (4) of the following paragraph:<br />‘‘(d) on his or her own initiative, on receipt of a complaint or on request<br />relating to the operation or administration of the Promotion of Access to<br />Information Act, 2000, endeavour, in his or her sole discretion, to resolve<br />any dispute by—<br />43<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30<br />35<br />40<br />45<br />50(i) mediation, conciliation or negotiation;<br />(ii) advising, where necessary, any complainant regarding appropriate<br />remedies; or<br />(iii) any other means that may be expedient in the circumstances.<br />Regulations<br />92. (1) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, make regulations regarding—<br />(a) any matter which is required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed;<br />(b) any matter relating to the fees contemplated in sections 22 and 54;<br />(c) any notice required by this Act;<br />(d) uniform criteria to be applied by the information officer of a public body when<br />deciding which categories of records are to be made available in terms of<br />section 15; and<br />(e) any administrative or procedural matter necessary to give effect to the<br />provisions of this Act.<br />(2) Any regulation in terms of subsection (1) must, before publication in the Gazette,<br />be submitted to Parliament.<br />(3) Any regulation in terms of subsection (1) which—<br />(a) relates to fees; or<br />(b) may result in financial expenditure for the State,<br />must be made by the Minister acting in consultation with the Minister of Finance.<br />Short title and commencement<br />93. (1) This Act is the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000, and takes effect<br />on a date determined by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.<br />(2) Different dates may be so determined in respect of—<br />(a) different provisions of this Act;<br />(b) different categories of public bodies, including, but not limited to, different<br />public bodies contemplated in—<br />(i) paragraph (a);<br />(ii) paragraph (b)(i); and<br />(iii) paragraph (b)(ii),<br />of the definition of ‘‘public body’’ in section 1; and<br />(c) different categories of private bodies.<br />44<br />5<br />10<br />15<br />20<br />25<br />30SCHEDULE<br />Part 1<br />(Section 6(a))<br />Number and year of law Short title Section<br />Act 107 of 1998 National Environmental<br />Management Act, 1998<br />Section 31(1)<br />Part 2<br />(Section 6(b))<br />Number and year of law Short title Section<br />Act 107 of 1998 National Environmental<br />Management Act, 1998<br />Section</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15087499581389459968noreply@blogger.com0