Daily Pioneer: New Delhi: Monday, July 30, 2018.
Amid a row over proposed changes in the RTI Act,
the Government has invited applications from eligible candidates to fill vacant
posts of Information Commissioners in transparency watchdog Central Information
Commission (CIC). “It is proposed to appoint Information Commissioners in the
Central Information Commission. Persons fulfilling the criteria and interested
for appointment to the post of Information Commissioner may send their
particulars in the enclosed proforma,” the advertisement says.
There are six Information Commissioners (ICs)
working in the CIC against a sanctioned strength of 10. The Central Information
Commission is headed by Chief Information Commissioner. RK Mathur is the
incumbent Chief Information Commissioner. Many RTI activists and the Government
are at loggerheads over the proposed changes in the transparency law. The
activists have claimed that the proposed changes will dilute the law.
According to the proposed amendment, the salaries,
allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the Chief Information
Commissioner and ICs “shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central
Government”. The tenure of information commissioners at the Centre and the
States is proposed to be amended from “a term of five years” to “terms as may
be prescribed by the Central Government”.
The salary, allowances and other terms and
conditions of service of the Information Commissioners shall be as may be
specified at the time of appointment of the selected candidates, the advert
reads. “The latest advertisement seeking applications for the post of ICs make
the Government intent clear that the proposed changes in the Act may get the
nod of the Parliament,” RTI activist Ajay Dubey said.
“We shall fight any attempt by the authorities
concerned to dilute the RTI Act,” Dubey said. An Information Commissioner shall
be a person of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in
law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass-media
or administration and governance, according to the advertisement. Persons who
have attained the age of 65 years shall not be eligible for appointment, it
said.
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