The Goa Government should immediately upload for public scrutiny on the Government website the biodata of all the 46 applicants for the two posts of State Information Commissioners. The selection process should not be stage managed and a mere eyewash. The selection this time around should be free, fair, transparent and not vitiated by political inter meddling as was seen earlier.
Only the best and the brightest should be appointed to these vital positions. As provided under Section 15(3) of the RTI Act, the Committee comprising of the Chief Minister, Leader of the Opposition and another Minister should themselves review all the 46 applications received and select the two Information Commissioners strictly on merit. As mandated by the RTI Act, eminence in public life should be the key guiding factor in the selection of the Information Commissioners while ensuring that the persons selected are independent minded and not Yes-man or puppets of the government. It is a matter of concern that most of the government websites including that of the Goa State Information Commission are currently either dysfunctional or not updated. Section 4 of the RTI Act mandates that all information should be displayed and regularly updated on government websites. The RTI Act was enacted to ensure transparency and accountability in public life. But Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar by his various acts over the last 23 months has proved himself doing everything possible to scuttle the RTI Act as various acts of omission and commission of this government were being exposed through information obtained under the RTI Act. While as Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar had regularly used the RTI Act to unearth information. On coming to power however Manohar Parrikar has gone all out in sabotaging the implementation of the RTI Act in the State. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372
