RTI Manch seeks transparency in appointing commissioner http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rti-manch-seeks-transparency-in-appointing-commissioner/539987/ Shiv Sahay Singh Posted online: Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009 at 0253 hrs Kolkata : Even as the state information commission is in the process of appointing a second information commissioner, there is growing discontent among rights organisations against the alleged secrecy being maintained by the government in the matter. A highly-placed official with the Information Commission said that the state government is looking for at least one information commissioner for assisting the state information commissioner in discharging his duties. The West Bengal RTI Manch today appealed to Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi to intervene and see that applications for the post are invited through advertisements so that citizens can either nominate a candidate or express their objections. “The Information Commission is responsible for furthering the cause of transparency in governance. If the appointment of the information commissioner is shrouded in secrecy, it would undermine his authority,” read the letter addressed to the Governor by the RTI Manch. RTI Manch secretary Moloy Bhattacharjee quoted Section 15(5) of the RTI Act saying that the State Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioners shall be persons of eminence in public life who possess wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance. The RTI activist said that in a meeting held last week at the Writers’ Buildings, the Opposition did not participate and no one had proper knowledge of the process of appointment. Interestingly, a statement recently made by West Bengal CIC Arun Bhattacharjee on the sidelines of a function in Kolkata caused much discomfort to the government. JUSTICE 4 ALL ! Send free SMS to your Friends on Mobile from your Yahoo! Messenger. Download Now! http://messenger.yahoo.com/download.php
