After year-long wait, process to fill vacant SIC posts takes off

After year-long wait, process to fill vacant SIC posts takes off

Hindustan times Lucknow edition page 2 date published 04-08-13


4 Aug 2013
Hindustan Times (Lucknow)
Gulam Jeelani gulam.gilkar@hindustantimes.com


LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh government has begun the process of filling
eight posts of information commissioners in the UP State Information
Commission (UPSIC), which had been lying vacant for the past one year.

The government is likely to issue fresh advertisements for the
appointment of the commissioners soon.

Chief secretary Jawed Usmani has already written to the chief minister
for final approval, according to the reply to an RTI query. Sources
said after the CM's go-ahead, over a hundred applications that were
directly received for the posts from various quarters might stand null
and void.

"The chief secretary has already sent the proposal for a fresh process
of appointment of commissioners. We are waiting for the CM's
response," Bhavesh Ranjan, under secretary, UP government, said in
reply to an RTI query by Lucknow-based activist Urvashi Sharma.

Unlike previous norm of filling the vacancies by inviting
applications, the government plans to publish an advertisement three
months in advance for the purpose.

"The applicants should get ample time to follow the process.
Therefore, an advertisement may be published soon," an official said.

The appointment process would be as per the norms laid down under the
RTI Act which says that 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 should be appointed as ICs.

"The directions of the high court and the Supreme Court order would be
kept in mind while making the appointments," the official said.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court, on April 15, had
directed the state government to fill vacant posts of ICs within three
months and furnish the report before it. The court refuted the
government's contention that it was not making appointments owing to
pendency of a review application in the Apex court.

On April 16, the SC had stayed its earlier order directing the
governments to appoint retired SC and HC judges as heads of
information commissions.

The ICs are appointed by the governor on the recommendation of a
committee chaired by the chief minister. The committee also includes
leader of opposition in the legislative assembly and a cabinet
minister nominated by the CM.

The state government has been waiting to appoint the information
commissioners since July 2012 when eight posts fell vacant due to
retirement of ICs.