On Thursday, the Opposition INDIA bloc called for the immediate repeal of Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP), arguing that it undermines the foundational principles of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

The demand was made during a joint press conference in New Delhi, led by Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, who announced that over 120 MPs from INDIA bloc parties, including Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, have endorsed a memorandum to this effect. The document is set to be submitted to Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The press conference saw participation from prominent opposition figures, including MM Abdulla (DMK), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena-UBT), John Brittas (CPI-M), Javed Ali Khan (Samajwadi Party), and Naval Kishor (RJD), reflecting a united front against the controversial provision.

Gogoi emphasized that civil rights activists have also raised strong objections to Section 44(3), which they claim effectively dismantles the transparency guaranteed by the RTI Act.

Under the original Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, public authorities could withhold personal information if its disclosure bore no relation to public activity or interest, or if it constituted an unwarranted invasion of privacy. However, this restriction came with a critical safeguard: the Central or State Public Information Officer, or an appellate authority, could override the exemption if disclosing the information served a greater public good.

In contrast, Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act amends this provision to allow government bodies to withhold any “information which relates to personal information” without exceptions or consideration of public interest. Critics, including the INDIA bloc, argue that this blanket restriction eliminates the balance between privacy and transparency that the RTI Act sought to maintain, effectively shielding government actions from scrutiny.

Gogoi described the amendment as a direct assault on democratic accountability, stating, “This change destroys the spirit of the RTI Act, which has been a cornerstone of citizens’ rights to information. We cannot allow such a rollback of transparency.” The opposition’s push to repeal the section underscores broader concerns about the government’s approach to data protection and its potential to erode public access to information.

In a tragic incident on April 9, an Air India Express pilot suffered a fatal cardiac arrest shortly after landing a flight from Srinagar to Delhi at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The airline confirmed the sudden demise, which has left colleagues and the aviation community in shock.

According to Air India Express, the pilot, identified as Armaan, began feeling unwell immediately after the aircraft touched down in Delhi. He was quickly taken to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel declared him deceased.

Colleagues later revealed that Armaan had vomited inside the cockpit following the landing and subsequently collapsed at the airline’s dispatch office at the airport, where he suffered the cardiac arrest, as per the reports.

In a statement, an Air India Express spokesperson expressed deep sorrow, saying, “We deeply regret the loss of a valued colleague due to a medical condition. Our thoughts are with his family during this time of profound grief. We are extending all possible support to them as we collectively cope with this tremendous loss. We request all concerned to respect their privacy and refrain from speculation while we assist the relevant authorities in their processes.”

The incident has raised concerns about the health and working conditions of pilots, especially as the aviation industry faces scrutiny over fatigue and stress. In a related development, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has postponed the implementation of new pilot rest rules, originally scheduled for June 2024. These updated Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms were designed to enhance pilot well-being by increasing weekly rest from 36 to 48 hours and reducing night flying hours from 13 to 10, aiming to combat fatigue.

However, airlines had requested additional time—approximately 8 to 10 months—to comply, arguing that the changes would require hiring 20–25 percent more pilots. Despite initially insisting on the deadline, the DGCA has now allowed carriers to continue operating under the 2019 rules until their revised plans are approved. Officials stated that the delay would provide an opportunity for further review and refinement of the regulations to ensure they are practical and effective.

On Thursday, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the Union government’s decision to refrain from waiving loans for those impacted by the landslides in Wayanad last July, calling it a “betrayal.”

As the Member of Parliament representing Wayanad, Priyanka highlighted a recent affidavit from the central government submitted to the Kerala High Court, indicating that the loans could only be rescheduled or restructured in accordance with the Reserve Bank of India’s Master Directions on Natural Calamities.

“The victims of the Wayanad landslides have lost everything: their homes, land, and livelihoods. Yet, the government remains unwilling to provide even a basic loan waiver. Instead, they are offered only loan rescheduling and restructuring, which is not genuine relief. This is a betrayal,” she stated in a Facebook post.

Priyanka further expressed her condemnation of the government’s indifference, stating that she and her party stand in solidarity with the affected individuals in Wayanad. “Their suffering will not be overlooked. We will continue to amplify their voices until justice is achieved,” she asserted.

The Centre’s affidavit was submitted in response to a query from the High Court concerning the possibility of waiving the loans taken by those affected. The Union Finance Ministry noted that a special meeting of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) of Kerala took place on August 19 of the previous year, which was attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This meeting resulted in the decision to apply relief measures as outlined in the RBI’s guidelines on natural calamities.

According to the RBI’s Master Directions, in the aftermath of a natural disaster, financial relief measures include the restructuring or rescheduling of existing loans, which offers a one-year moratorium along with the possibility of new loans.

This affidavit was submitted in relation to a Public Interest Litigation initiated by the court following the Wayanad landslides, aimed at enhancing disaster prevention and management strategies in Kerala. A significant landslide occurred on July 30 of last year, devastating the Mundakkai and Chooralmala regions.