RTI pressure: 5 eminent persons wanted as Information Commissioners

THE government has been looking for eminent persons in the field of law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, administration etc. to fill up 5 posts of Information Commissioners who need to act like watchdogs in case of RTI disputes. The Information Commissioners are entitled to get the same salary and allowances as that of an Election Commissioner.

With the Central government receiving about eight lakh RTI applications in a year, there has been a pressure on Central Information Commission too, as not-so-satisfying applicants can approach the CIC to complain.

Eminent persons in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass-media or administration and governance can apply for this coveted position. According to the law, the Information Commissioner shall not be a Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any state or Union Territory, or hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession.

At present, Central Information Commission based in New Delhi has Chief Information Commissioner and five Information Commissioners whereas there can be 10 Information Commissioners, according to RTI Act. Whereas 1973 batch retired IAS Satyananda Mishra is the Chief Information Commissioner, the Information Commissioners are Annapurna Dixit, Shailesh Gandhi, former police officer ML Sharma, former media adviser to PM Deepak Sandhu and former IAS Sushma Singh.

Persons fulfilling the criteria for appointment as Information Commissioner and interested for appointment to the post may send their particulars in the enclosed proforma by post to Under Secretary (IR), Department of Personnel and Training, North Block, New Delhi or through e-mail to usrti-doptc@nic.in by November 18, 2011.

Ex-IAS' house confiscated

The Orissa government has recently confiscated the house of retired IAS officer Sanjib Kumar Ray in a case connected with disproportionate assets. The family of Ray who retired way back in 2004, was removed from the house when it was confiscated. The case dates back to 2001 when Ray was vice-chairman of Cuttack Development Authority (CDA).
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