Tuesday, September 25, 2012

801 & counting: RTI queries pile up


HERALD: PANJIM: Tuesday, September 25, 2012
If the Right to Information Act was intended to provide access to government information, the 801 applications pending before the Goa State Information Commission since July 2012, show that the purpose of the Act has been sorely defeated, and that government is in no hurry to act.
Ideally, a government eager to promote transparency and accountability in administration has to appoint the new SIC before the retirement of the incumbent, activists opined, but months after the retirement of the previous incumbent Motilal Kenny, the post of State Information Commissioner lies vacant causing tremendous hardships to information seekers.
The controversies surrounding the appointment of new SIC have been the main reason for non-filling of the post. Out of 27 applicants who had applied for the post of SIC, a committee headed by then Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava shortlisted three names – former secretary for civil supplies IAS D C Sahoo, former Director of Goa AIDS Control Society Dr Pradeep Padwal and former Chairman of Goa Secondary and Higher Secondary Board Pandurang Nadkarni.
Nadkarni, the first appointee gave in to sustained media and activists’ exposes regarding his qualifications. Before Governor B V Wanchoo could approve his selection, he opted out of the race citing personal reasons.
Dr Padwal who was appointed next, after his name was recommended by the government during the Monsoon Session to the governor, quit after the Supreme Court recently passed a judgement stating that SICs should have judicial knowledge.
Besides, not only was the competency of both candidates questioned, but even government faltering on proper selection procedure became an issue.
With a huge backlog of 418 appeals and 383 complaints, the RTI appellate work has been affected severely. The number of complaints is increasing day by day, hence, adding to the backlog.
Officials from Directorate of Information and Publicity, which processes the appointment of the commissioner, said they are yet to study the Supreme Court judgement.
“We have not started the process to select (a new) information commissioner. The entire process will be done afresh. We will have to study the Supreme Court judgement first before deciding on anything,” Director Swapnil Naik, said.
Goa RTI Forum’s President Nandini Sahai has questioned the wisdom of the government in delaying the appointment of SIC.
“According to a Supreme Court directive, the government should appoint a successor to the SIC post before the retirement of the sitting commissioner. But the Goa government did not follow this,” she said.