Activists demand transparent system for appointing CIC
November 18th, 2009 - 11:23 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Nov 18 (IANS) Right to Information (RTI) activists from
across the country Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
demanding that the next Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) be
appointed through a transparent, inclusive and participatory process.
"The process of appointments to the posts of information commissioners
is non-transparent and arbitrary. Many people from across the country
have been repeatedly requesting the government to make this process
transparent, inclusive and participatory so that it throws up credible
and effective people. However, no action has been taken in this
regard," the activists said in their letter.
"For the post of CIC … some names are doing the rounds as being in the
consideration list. How did these names make it to that list? Dr
(Manmohan) Singh, we are sure that a person like you cannot approve of
such a secret, unholy and unhealthy process," the letter added.
The letter has been signed by RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and members
of RTI groups of various states. A similar letter has been sent to
United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Lok
Sabha's opposition leader L.K. Advani.
The post of CIC fell vacant after Wajahat Habibullah resigned last
month to head the Information Commission of Jammu and Kashmir on Chief
Minister Omar Abdullah's request. The decision to select the new CIC
is expected to be taken by the end of this week.
The activists demanded that the government make public the names being
considered for the post.
"Kindly disclose the names on the final consideration list. Which
names were received by the government from across the country? In
addition to Kiran Bedi, we understand that the government has received
candidature of at least 100 people. How were some of them found
suitable and others unsuitable?," the activists asked.
They alleged that these posts are being used to reward political
loyalists, and said "people who worked in the PMO, as DoPT (Department
of Personnel and Training) secretaries and the government's
spokespersons have been appointed as information commissioners."
The activists highlighted the process adopted by Indonesia for the
appointment of information commissioners.
"In Indonesia, the government first publicised for the post of seven
information commissioners through national dailies, invited public
feedback on over 300 applications receive, and NGOs helped in tracking
down their pasts. They were then subjected to psychological and
written tests. On the basis of all these inputs, 21 persons were
shortlisted, who were then interviewed by parliamentary committee in
public view. Finally, seven persons were selected," said Kejriwal.
"We request you to adopt this process for appointment of CICs and to
recommend it to all state governments, especially the Congress-ruled
states. The UPA gave this wonderful legislation to this country. Let
it not be seen wanting in strictly enforcing and implementing it," the
activists said.
The CIC is appointed by a committee of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and a cabinet minister.
The activists also urged Advani not to attend any meeting of the
appointing committee till the government puts a transparent system in
place for the appointment of information commissioners.
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