Govt to appoint Information Commissioners; appointments to be conditional

THE government has decided to appoint more Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission, the agency which is the final word on any RTI dispute. The government has decided to go ahead with the appointment process even though there is an on-going ligation in the apex court. A DoPT advertisement dated May 31, 2013 said that “these appointments would be subject to the outcome of…
Review Petition (C) no. 2309 of 2012 pending before the Hon’ble Supreme Court”. Currently, there are seven Information Commissioners including Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra.
According to the advertisement, “persons of eminence 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 the post. There are provisions to have the Chief Information Commissioner and up to 10 Information Commissioners.
Further, 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. “It is clarified that cessation/termination of holding of office of profit, pursuing any profession or carrying any business is a condition precedent to the appointment of a person as Information Commissioner,” the DoPT advertisement said.
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 (RTI), Department of Personnel and Training, North Block, New Delhi or through e-mail to usrti-dopt@nic.in by June 28, 2013.
A number of Union secretaries who have recently retired are likely to be strong contenders for the vacant posts.

Extension of Last dateThe last date of receipt of completed applications of officers from the Controlling Authorities for four short-term foreign training programmes to be organized under the Domestic Funding of Foreign Training (DFFT) Scheme at Harvard University, has been extended till June 7, 2013. It is however clarified that the deadline for filling up of Annexure I of the application form by individual officers will continue to be May 31, 2013.