The Times of India: Lucknow: Monday, July 30, 2012.
UP has been a laggard in RTI implementation, but there is no dearth of claimants to the posts of information commissioners. Everyone, right from lawyers to ministers, MLAs, small-time politicians, journalist, former and working government officers, social workers, journalists, individuals calling themselves 'eminent citizens' and even MPs with a remote UP-connect are vying for the coveted posts which are lying vacant at present.
The administrative reforms department (ARD) of the UP government has become a centre of hyper-activity because of the deluge of applications and "recommendations" coming from varied quarters for the appointment of ICs. Being a nodal agency for the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in the state, the ARD is receiving self-attested applications from aspirants by dozens every day.
Most of the applications which the department is getting are the ones which were addressed to the higher-ups, and later routed to the department. The frenzy caught up after the retirement of four ICs on July 13 became a public knowledge. When asked to comment, Bhavesh Ranjan, under-secretary, ARD, said, "as of now, we have only sent a proposal to the governor asking for setting up a search committee to begin the appointment procedure for ICs."
UP state information commission has sanctioned strength of ten ICs and a chief information commissioner (CIC). Right now, all the 10 posts are vacant. While four of them retired on July 13, terms of six commissioners already got over in September and October 2011. There were no new appointments made since then.
Going by the official version, appointment of ICs is still a distant decision. "I am not saying the applications will not be considered but it's only search committee which will decide on them," he added. Information Commissioners are appointed by the governor on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the chief minister, who is the chairperson of the committee; the leader of the opposition in the legislative assembly and a cabinet minister nominated by the CM.
"There might be some time taken to decide about the cabinet minister. After that is done the committee will hold its first meeting and decide further," said sources.
This time around, if the appointments will be made against all the vacancies, is yet not clear. The RTI Act lays down clearly that ICs should be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience of law, science and technology, social service and management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance.
They should not be an MP or member of the legislature of any state or Union territory or hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession. Contrary to this, the ARD has received lot of applications from MLAs, MPs and even ministers.
While the information commissioner gets the salary of state election commissioner, information commissioners get the salary equivalent to the chief secretary. Besides, they get staff and vehicles to run their offices.
Times View;
During the past seven years since the Right to Information Act was implemented, it has gone a long way in empowering the common man. Just like the office of the Lokayukta, the team of Information Commissioners act as watchdogs whose job is to ensure transparency in the functioning of government departments. Information Commissioners, therefore, have this gigantic responsibility to maintain the sanctity of the institution. Therefore, those appointed to these posts should be persons with impeccable integrity. But of late, it has been observed that the perks that go with the posts have turned them into a much sought-after among those close to the party in power. This should not happen at all. The SP government must ensure that Information Commissioners are appointed purely on merit. The post should never be used to oblige a handful of favourite candidates who are undeserving.
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