Deccan Chronicle: National: Sunday, September
09, 2018.
In the backdrop of the ongoing row over
proposed changes in the RTI Act, the government has invited applications from
eligible candidates to fill vacant posts of information commissioners (ICs) in
the Central Information Commission. There are six ICs working in the CIC
against a sanctioned strength of 10. The CIC is headed by chief information
commissioner R.K. Mathur. 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 ICs at the Centre and states is proposed to
be amended from “a term of five years” to “terms as may be prescribed by the
Central government”.
The salaries, allowances and other terms
and conditions of service of the ICs shall be as may be specified at the time
of appointment of the selected candidates. The latest advertisement seeking
applications for the post of ICs make the government’s intent clear, that the
proposed changes in the act may get the nod of Parliament.
Few takers for Central posts
Working at the Centre does not seem like
an exciting prospect any more for many babus. The Centre had extended the last
date of application for at least four Union joint-secretary level posts up to
August 24. The posts come under the ministries of petroleum and natural gas,
textiles, commerce and industry and health.
Though no reason is being cited, it is
believed that the government was prompted to extend the date of application due
to less number of suitable applicants. The posts for which applications have
been invited include, chairman-cum-managing director, Handicrafts and Handlooms
Export Corporation of India Ltd, Noida; secretary, Oil Industry Development
Board; development commissioner, Cochin Special Economic Zone, Cochin; and
senior deputy director-general (administration), Indian Council of Medical
Research, New Delhi.
Of course, the government is hoping to
have better luck filling the 10 positions of joint-secretary level, that have
been recently opened for lateral entry from the public and private sectors.
Bihar blocks babu’s transfer
The battle of a Bihar-cadre IAS officer
Jitendra Gupta seeking an inter-cadre transfer to Haryana has blown up into a
major tussle. The state government has now gone to the Delhi high court against
Mr Gupta’s plea requesting the transfer following alleged threat to his life from
the transport “mafia” in Bihar.
In 2015, the 2013-cadre IAS officer had
acted strongly against some organised gangs and has been claiming a threat to
his life since, which the state government continues to deny. But recently an
RTI plea revealed an internal report of the Bihar police, which corroborates
the babu’s claim.
The Bihar government had moved the SC
against the HC’s decision to quash the FIR and initiated departmental
proceedings against the officer. He was currently posted as officer on special
duty, department of environment and forest.
Mr Gupta moved the SC for an inter-cadre
transfer to Haryana because he faced extreme hardships. The SC directed the
department of personnel and training (DoPT) to consider the grievances of Mr
Gupta and take appropriate action.
The DoPT considered his application for
transfer to Haryana cadre and the latter even issued a no-objection
certificate. But the Bihar government continues to oppose the transfer. The IAS
officers’ association of Bihar and Central IAS Association have strongly
protested the unlawful action of the state administration against Mr Gupta.