200 RTI activists demand removal of commissioner

Bangalore Mirror: Bangalore: Monday, 06 October 2014.

They plan to hit the streets on Oct 15 to protest the piled up cases before the commission.

In a case of mounting grievances against the grievance redressal forum itself, State Chief Information Commissioner AKM Nayak is facing a rising tide of calls for his resignation over the dismal performance of the State Information Commission.

More than two hundred RTI activists are set to hit the streets on October 15 to protest the growing pendency of cases before the commission and also to demand Nayak's removal for alleged misuse of state funds.

Nayak had recently drawn flak for allegedly using public money to pay a penalty of 1 lakh that was imposed by the Supreme Court "for wasting public time and money."

"We have around 12,000 cases pending before the commission and he (Nayak) takes just five cases per day," said VeereshBellur, an RTI activist, who unearthed a 365-crorefinancial irregularity pertaining to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences through his RTI pleas.

The activists said the SCIC had assured them that the commission would soon evolve a mechanism for speedy disposal of cases but so far that has not materialised.

"We have to wait for about a year for the first hearing of the appeal/complaint. Even the High Court takes up a writ petition within a week. While the High Court lists up to over 50 writ petitions a day, the state information commission lists only around 15 a day," Bellur said.

The commission was set up in August 2005 to redress RTI grievances. KK Mishra was the first state chief information commissioner. Nayak was appointed commissioner in 2011.

"We come to the commission hoping for a speedy solution. But cases get delayed at the commission itself. During Mishra's tenure, our complaints were listed within 15 days. That's not the case anymore," Jayakumar Hiremath, another activist who is pursuing a case against former homer minister R Ashoka, told Bangalore Mirror.

The activists will also write to the governor demanding an inquiry into the complaints lodged against Nayak.

"The commission's policy in disposing of cases is detrimental to the spirit of the RTI Act. Hence, we are demanding his removal. All organisations and prominent citizens will join us," Bellur said.

Nayak was not available for comment.