Source: 
DNA
http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?id=46509&boxid=34517&ed_date=2013-06-05&ed_code=820009&ed_page=12
Date: 
05.06.2013
City: 
New Delhi

New Delhi: The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) filed a caveat in the Delhi High Court on Tuesday asking to be heard before any political party gets a stay against the Central Information Commission’s Monday order.
In a landmark decision on Monday, the CIC brought six political parties — Congress, BJP, CPI-M, CPI, BSP and the NCP — under the ambit of the RTI Act, saying the parties are substantially financed by the central government among other things. The order evoked a mixed response from political parties, with most of them criticising it.
Before any party could approach the courts to seek a stay on the order, the ADR, one of the applicants in the case, approached the Delhi High Court on Tuesday. “We have filed the caveat so that no party can get a stay on the CIC order without our knowledge,” said Anil Bairwal, ADR’s national coordinator. The other applicant in the case, SC Agrawal, said that political parties should welcome the decision as it would boost transparency and accountability and improve their public image.
The BJP was the only one of the six political parties to welcome the order while the others, led by the Congress, slammed it. “We totally disagree with it. Such an adventurist approach will damage our democratic institutions,” Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said. 
Stating that it cannot accept the CIC order, the CPI (M) said the matter should be discussed by the government with all political parties so that suitable steps can be taken to preserve the integrity and the role of political parties in a democratic political system.
The Janata Dal (U), which was not mentioned in the order, expressed “astonishment and shock” at the order. “We are totally against the move and the central government should come forward to scuttle it,” said its president, Sharad Yadav.
The sole acceptance came from the BJP quarters with spokesperson Capt Abhimanyu Singh saying, “We welcome transparency.”


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