Activists sit-in against chief information commissioner

[bahl_ajay]

The only case wherein a CIC has been suspended since the RTI Act came into existence is that of Governor TV Rajeswar placing the state's chief information commissioner (CIC) Justice (retd) Mohammad Asgar Khan under suspension after making a reference to the Supreme Court for an inquiry into complaints related to serious malpractices and irregularities against him.

There were complaints about the working style of the CIC, in violation of Right To Information (RTI) Act, 2005

[opsharma]

It is sad that CICs , by their conduct/perceived conduct in public , give opportunity not only to question their credentials openly but belittle the institute they represent. Be it UPSCIC who has been under suspension and reported upon or above posted case.Even in Mumbai the last SCIC's many questionable decisions have been reversed and his style of working was also highly criticised.
Therefore ,it is imperitive that selection of CICs be not based on political lollipops but on unquestionable integrity , quick grasp of cases and decision taking objectivity and courage. There is no place for indecisive ,timepass and perceived to be bureaucracy -leaning CICs .

[vijendra singh]

But to prove comissioner's infirmity of mind is a very very very DIFFICULT & impossible task for a tortured , innocent, poor citizen . Should citizen sit- in before President house? Pl suggest some simple, straight way.

[sidmis]

Activists arrested for protest against chief information commissioner

As Reported in Calcutta News.Net Friday 25th July, 2008 (IANS)

A group of Right to Information (RTI) activists were arrested late
Friday for holding a sit-in against Chief Information Commissioner
(CIC) Wajahat Habibullah outside his office in south Delhi to demand
that the health department be given to another commissioner.

"We have arrested some activists for staging a demonstration outside
the CIC office in Bhikaji Cama Palace and obstructing public servants
from performing their duties," said Azad Singh, in-charge of the R.K.
Puram police station.

He declined to give the number of people arrested.

Arif, one of the protesters, said: "For the past four months, we were
demanding that Habibullah take the health department from IC
(Information Commissioner) Padma Balasubramanian and give it to
another commissioner. However, even after repeated assurances, he
never took the decision."

Besides Habibullah, the four ICs are A.N. Tiwari, O.P. Kejriwal, M.M.
Ansari and Balasubramanian.

The RTI activists, who held the protest, were working on health
issues
in hospitals across the capital.

"She (Balasubramanian) is biased towards government officials and
never takes any strict action against them even if it can be taken
under the RTI law," Arif alleged.

"We wanted the health department to be given to Kejriwal or that
Habibullah should take it under himself," he added.

The protesters said they had decided not leave the CIC office till
Habibullah takes action.

http://www.calcuttanews.net/ story/386431

[opsharma]

Ref my post 12 above.

FOR LINE 3 PARA 1, READ JHARKHAND FOR MUMBAI.
The error is highly regretted.

It was justice(Retd)Hari shankar Prasad,whose decisions and actions were generally perceived questionable even by other ICs and since his tenure completion have been reversed.This was widely reported by media.

[vijendra singh]

But the other ICs also are not working as per RTI Act spirit. Actually shortage of ICs must be removed by central govt. immediately. Accountability also should be fixed in CIC etc. There must be some penalty on CIC like penalty on PIOs.

[Anil Sood]

This is biased report. In actual the demonstrators barged into his room and asked him to listen immediately. He requested them that he was in hearing and once hearing will over he will listen to their grievances. They did not agree and all people were Jhuggi Dwellers led by a lady activist. But this is not the right way to demonstrate. Chief Information Commissioner is so soft spoken persons that he can not hurt any body. The police was called by his staff only after they did not allow him to work.

[Anil Sood]

Psychological tests must be compulsory for the info commisioners every month .This will protect laws of the country

Do not give such rubbish reply. Do not think that IC become slave and they have to get medical tests.

Who will fix the penalty on IC. Again u have to move higt/Supreme Court for penalty . Give some concrete solution