Government of uttar pradesh adopts lackadaisical approach in appointing ICs.

[Yogi M. P. Singh]

Hon'ble members. It is well known fact that Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state of the India. In the state information commission of this most populous state , there are two ICs and CIC Ranjeet Singh Pankaj right now. What should be the strengh of commissioners in the state information commission of this most populous state of the country? Whether there is any time bound provision for the appointment of commissioners in order to fill up the posts vacant due to retirement of commissioners. Whether any steps have been taken by government of india regarding the formulation of rule in order to bring up more transparency in selection process of CICs and ICs. Whether the state government is not bound by law to appoint the information commissioners in time bound manner which is the need of hour. Whether the long delay in the appointment of commissioners is not against the letters and spirit of Right to Information Act 2005.

[Yogi M. P. Singh]

Sponsorer

Hon'ble members. THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005
No. 22 of 2005
[15th June, 2005.]
An Act to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for
citizens to secure access to information under the control of public
authorities, in order to promote transparency and accountability in the
working of every public authority, the constitution of a Central Information
Commission and State Information Commissions and for matters connected
therewith or incidental thereto.
WHEREAS the Constitution of India has established democratic Republic;
AND WHEREAS democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of
information which are vital to its functioning and also to contain corruption and to
hold Governments and their instrumentalities accountable to the governed. Here delay on the part of state government in the appointment of commissioners to fill up vacant posts is sheer unjustified and against the letters and spirit of Right to Information Act 2005.

[dr.s.malhotra]

You are right .
Although there is no such express provision of appointment of ICs in a time-bound manner , yet for better governance and for implementation of various Acts and for public welfare it implies that no Constitutional post / Govt.post should be left vacant at any point of time except under very compelling circumstance .

[jatin Sharma]

If a state minister can make suggestions to Public service officers how to do theft and avoid dacoity, what much do you expect from that administration,Give you in written ?I think he just gave you the scenario of state in suo moto disclosure !

[karira]

There is no "norm" for the number of commissioners to be there in the Information Commission. The RTI Act requires only the Chief + upto 10 Commissioners.

I am not aware of any appropriate Government - whether Central or any State doing any study before appointing information commissioners. Each Commissioner costs the taxpayer approximately Rs. 2.5 lakhs per month - not to count the cost of the associated staff, space, etc. Therefore, there is a need to study the pendency in each commission, the present disposal rates, the population of the state, etc. before deciding the the number of commissioners to be appointed.

I had done a study in Nov 2011 and it is attached.

You will clearly see that there is no relationship between the pendency and the strength of the commission.