Activists sit-in against chief information commissioner

[sidmis]

Activists sit-in against chief information commissioner

As Reported in in ThaiIndian.com July 24th, 2008 - 10:13 pm ICT by IANS

New Delhi, July 24 (IANS) Over 50 Right to Information (RTI) activists
Thursday held a sit-in against Chief Information Commissioner (CIC)
Wajahat Habibullah outside his office in south Delhi to demand the
transfer of the health department to another commissioner. "For the
past four months, we were demanding that Habibullah transfer the
health department from IC (Information Commissioner) Padma
Balasubramanian to another commissioner. However, even after repeated
assurances, he never took the decision," said Arif, a protestor.
Besides Habibullah, the four ICs are A.N. Tiwari, O.P. Kejriwal, M.M.
Ansari and Balasubramanian.

The activists, who were protesting, were working on health issues in
hospitals across the capital.
Arif alleged: "She is biased towards government officials and never
takes any strict against them even if it can be taken under the RTI
law."

"We demanded that health department be given to either Kejriwal or
Habibullah should see it himself," he added.

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

"Instead, they ignored our demands and continued their work. Now, all
the commissioners have gone home and officers are threatening that if
we will not go, they would close the office tomorrow (Friday)," said
another protester, Savita.

The protesters vowed to continue their protest till the time their
demands were met and dispersed after the police were called.
Bibhav, another protester, said: "Even though we were protesting
peacefully, they called the police. We will continue our protest
everyday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. till the time our demands are met."

Activists sit-in against chief information commissioner - Thaindian News

[bahl_ajay]

I have two of my RTI cases against the Health Ministry pending with the CIC. and they too are scheduled to be taken up by Mrs Padma Balasubramanian. If this is the kind of attitude that the IC has I am not much hopeful of getting thru with the requisite info.

Let's all pray that those protesters succeed in convincing the CIC to give in to their justified demands.

[vijendra singh]

I agree to activists Arif &hundred others fully. But what about snatching the Banking deptt from that IC. 11 of my appeals were dismissed & 18 decided biasedly. These 29 files were finished JUST IN 70 MINUTES .

[prbhat_gen]

against IC Padma one of my known, has filed a writ petition in the High Court, since she did not even see the appeal papers and simply gave a foolish order/judgement.

[bahl_ajay]

Prbhat, could you please let us know the outcome of that writ petition.
Can the order of an IC be challenged in the court.

[vijendra singh]

Now every rti citzen/ activist will have to think & search some ways how to remove & penalise the erring info commissioners from their chairs. If erring imfo comm. continue in office, RIGHT TO INFORMATION & HENCE THE RIGHT TO LIFE of citizens will be in danger CERTAINLY.Supreme court also must think on fundamental rights.cIC has been acting as if it is IMMUNE.

[karira]

The following thread will also be interesting for readers:

Another "toss it back" decision from CIC

[vijendra singh]

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

[vijendra singh]

Mr Karira, pl find out some best, easiest , practical solutions how to urgently remove headache of innocent citizens who are harassed knowingly, unnecessarily by the cIC . No citizen has money & time & mind to fight with CIC in courts. Pl. help the poor countrymen who could not get info even after spending 15 months time & thosands of rupees. Out of 5 commissioners, only 1 has been doing his duties well ; others have been drawing salaries without good cause from pockets of the public. Today tis has become important question of debate. If CIC is unwell, who then will protect the HOLY RTI Act 05 ? Kindly think & think &think.

[prbhat_gen]

the section 14 of RTI Act defines the circumstances of removing a IC or the Cheif IC.