Rising Kashmir: Jammu: Tuesday,
May 10, 2016.
A petition
seeking initiation of process for the appointment of Chief Information
Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioner under J&K Right to
Information Act, 2009 was filed in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday.
In the much
publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) titled Sheikh Mohammed Shafi, the
co-petitioner Prof SK Bhalla filed a fresh miscellaneous petition seeking
appropriate directions to the Chief Secretary, J&K Government,
Commissioner/Secretary General Administration Department and
Commissioner/Secretary Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to initiate the
process for appointment of Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioner
under J&K Right to Information Act, 2009.
In the
application filed through Advocate Rahul Raina it has been submitted that
J&K Government established State Information Commission under J&K RTI
Act, 2009 and G.R. Sufi was appointed as the founder Chief Information
Commissioner besides two Information Commissionersm Dr S.K. Sharma and Nazir
Ahmed were also appointed.
It further
submitted that Dr. S.K. Sharma completed his term as Information Commissioner
in October 2015 whereas Chief Information Commissioner G.R. Sufi also demitted
office on 29-02-2016 and presently the Commission is being run by Information
Commissioner, Nazir Ahmed.
The PIL
further stated in the application that it was incumbent upon the State
Government to initiate the process of the appointment of the CIC and the
Information Commissioner prior to the completion of their terms but till date
the said process has not been started with the result the information watchdog
of the State Government has been rendered headless and almost defunct.
On the last
date of hearing an oral mention was made by Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed
appearing for the petitioners with regard to non-filling up of the vacant slots
of CIC and Information Commissioner and the Division Bench comprising Justice D.S.
Thakur and Justice B.S. Walia had observed in the open court that the
petitioners may file proper application in this regard.
The
petitioners have prayed that appropriate directions be issued to the Chief
Secretary, J&K Government, Commissioner /Secretary General Administration
Department and Commissioner /Secretary Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
to initiate the process for appointment of Chief Information Commissioner and
Information Commissioner under J&K Right to Information Act, 2009.
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