Plea against SIC Posting Dismissed

Indian Express: Kochi: Friday, 26 June 2015.

The Kerala High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by RTI Kerala Federation challenging the appointment of Sony B Thengamom as State Information Commissioner.

A Division Bench Comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A M Shaffique observed that the court did not find any merit in the case and dismissed the petition filed by D B Binu, general secretary, RTI Kerala Federation. The Federation submitted that Thengamom is not qualified to be appointed as Commissioner as he was an active member of the Communist Party of India (CPI) at the time when he was considered for the post. “Having regard to the law as held by the Supreme Court, it is rather clear that if a person remains unconnected with the political party, though he was a member of a political party earlier, he could be appointed as State Information Commissioner. The court does not think that Sony, being a member of a political party or its student organisation, has to be debarred from being the Commissioner,” the court observed.

The Bench also dismissed the allegation that Sony was incapacitated from performing the duties as he was unhealthy. The court said that there was no material to indicate that Sony was suffering from any diseases.