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.

[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