There is need for well-meaning activists to promptly apply in large numbers for
the posts of State and Central Information Commissioners. For too long now,
these positions have been handed out to retiring bureaucrats only, who neither
understand nor endorse transparency
If citizens and civil society activists apply to get into these posts, there
will be many benefits.
Firstly, there will be pressure on the system to appoint some good candidates
from civil society to these posts, which is absent now. Since no one else is
applying for these jobs, the government has not been forced to consider
non-bureaucrats, and this has resulted in a cozy 'jobs for the boys' system of
appointments. Second, to cope with the large numbers of candidates from civil
society, the government will be forced to introduce proper criteria and
procedures for shortlisting candidates. Such criteria are hugely important for
these posts, but thus far there has been no clear basis on which the
appointments are carried out.And finally, if the government arbitrarily ignores
our names and selects its own people without due procedure, eligibility
criteria etc. - as it is currently doing - we will have the locus standi to go
to court with writ petitions against such appointments. There is a good chance
of convincing the Courts that appointing
bureaucrats alone to such public service oversight roles is in violation of
the Constitution and the RTI Act itself.Read the full article
: http://indiatogether.com/2010/may/rti-apply.htm
I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still i can do
something. I will not refuse to do something I can do .( Helen Keller )
