DNA: Mumbai: Monday, September 12,
2016.
Clearly, the
Information Officer's job is one of the most sought after jobs in the state as
maximum number of applications received for the post have been made by the
'Babus'. As per information provided under Right To Information Act to dna, 24
applications have been received for the post of information commissioner out of
which over 20 applications have been submitted by former bureaucrats and other
applicants include an advocate, journalists and a banker.
Some of the
applicants even got recommendations from prominent leaders like leader of
opposition, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, former minister and then number two in
government, Eknath Khadse and minister for medical education, water resources
and command area development, Girish Mahajan among others.
The details
were provided by the general administration department (GAD) that takes care of
matters related to implementation of RTI and appointment of information
commissioners.
There are
three posts vacant and there is mounting pending appeals at the state
information commission.
Out of the
total number of application from the babus, five are from Indian Administrative
Service (IAS), one from Indian Police Service (IPS) and three from Indian
Forest Service (IFS). Rest are from state services or have headed a board in
the past. Almost four of them applied while they were still on job. These
included now retired additional chief secretary (GAD), PS Meena and former
transport commissioner, Shyam Vardhane. Among others are officers from law and
judiciary and animal welfare department.
A number of
applicants even gave the preference for the bench they would like to head.
Meena stated that he would consider voluntary retirement before his
superannuation period ends if he is appointed as information commissioner for
Nashik bench. Vardhane sought a recommendation from home department as per
information provided and sought posting at either Nashik, Amravati or
Aurangabad bench.
Former
additional director general of police, Ramrao Wagh is the only person from IPS
to have applied. He got a recommendation letter from MP, Dr. Subhash Bhamre. As
per copies provided under RTI, eight people got recommendation letter, which
includes journalist, banker and advocate besides the bureaucrats.
Prakash
Mahajan, former IAS and secretary of Marahtwada Vikas Mahamandal, has a
recommendation letter from minister Girish Mahajan who used to head water
resources department. Girish Mahajan in his letter to chief minister Fadnavis
has written that since government appoints retired bureaucrats to some extent
for the post of I C. He also stated that Prakash is known to him and keeping
his work in mind he be appointed as information commissioner as a request.
Devendra
Fadnavis along with leader of opposition, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and a senior
minister from the government form a three member panel that selects names and
gives to Governor for appointment. Vikhe Patil has written a letter for
Balasaheb Bothe Patil who is a journalist.
When dna
contacted Vikhe Patil to ask him if it is not in conflict to recommend someone
and then sit to choose among other applicants, he did not respond.
Khadse, who
would have been part of the panel had he been in ministry made recommendation
for Shridhar Salunkhe who was director of education. He said that Salunkhe has
done very illustrative work in the field of education and should be considered.
Banker John
Kharat has a letter from Dilip Gandhi, former minister of state for shipping
while Shankarrao Dhavale, retired district judge has a letter from Shashikant
Khedekar, MLA from Sindhkhedraja. The other journalist is Dilip Dharurkar has
got a recommendation from MLA Atul Save of Aurgangabad and Vilas Bardekar,
another applicant has a recommendation from MLC, Shobha Fadnavis.
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