RE: [HumJanenge] HC notice to Centre on vacant IC posts at CIC

Thanks for the Mail & information about High Court Order on PIL for filling up vacancies of Information Commissioners at the Centre. We are considering to file a PIL in respect of Information Commissioners in U.P; we may even challenge some appointments already made in violation of Section 12(5) of RTI  Act. I request you to keep us updated on the Delhi High Court case. In particular we wish to have a copy of the PIL if you can provide.

 

            With renewed thanks,

                          KN

 

 

 

 

 

From the Desk of :

Justice Kamleshwar Nath

Retd.	:	Up-Lokayukta ( Karnataka ), Vice Chairman – C.A.T ( Allahabad ), Judge – High Court ( Lucknow & Allahabad )
Address	:	`Gunjan', C - 105, Niralanagar, Lucknow : 226 020. Uttar Pradesh, India
Phone(s)	:	+91-522-2789033 & +91-522-4016459. Mobile : +91-9415010746

 

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From: humjanenge@googlegroups.com [mailto:humjanenge@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of M.K. Gupta
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 4:26 PM
To: humjanenge@googlegroups.com
Subject: [HumJanenge] HC notice to Centre on vacant IC posts at CIC

 

HC notice to Centre on vacant IC posts at CIC

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre on a PIL seeking filling up of vacant posts of Information Commissioners at the Central Information Commission as it has led to massive backlog of cases filed under the transparency law.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw asked the Centre to file its response, detailing the status of appointment process and fixed the matter for further hearing on February 15.

The court's notice was issued on the PIL filed by RTI activists R K Jain and Amit Shanker, alleging that no action has been taken on the issue despite two "distress" letters written by the Central Information Commissioner to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The PIL, filed through lawyers Prashant Bhushan and Pranav Sachdeva, sought filling of posts of Information Commissioners (ICs) and subordinate staff including Secretarial Staff within time-bound frame.

It also said, "There should not be gap between retirement and appointment of Information Commissioner. Further, there should be some time line for disposal of complaints and appeal by the Information Commissioners."

The panel, which was earlier having one CIC and nine ICs, has at present "five vacant posts of ICs", it said, adding "At present more than 20,000 appeals and complaints are pending before the Central Information Commission for disposal and with the growing awareness among public more and more matters are piling up before the CIC.

"Direct the Centre to prepare a list of candidates for the posts of ICs in transparent manner on the basis of rational criteria from diverse backgrounds as envisaged under the Right to Information Act... and put the list before the high-powered selection committee."

 

Courtesy- Shri Krishna Rao.