Reported by Murari Shetye in Timesofindia.indiatimes.com on Jul 21, 2012
Disputed appointment of State Information Commisioner - The Times of India

PANAJI: A 48- hour deadline has been served to Goa government to revoke the appointment of Pradeep Padwal as the State Information Commissioner by an activist alleging that the appointment is not in accordance with provisions of RTI Act. A legal notice has been served to the chief secretary by social activist Aires Rodrigues.

In his notice Rodrigues has demanded "In public interest the illegal and high-handed appointment of Padwal as State Information Commissioner be revoked as it was not in accordance with the Right to Information Act."

Pointing out that Section 15(5) of the Right to Information Act requires that the Information Commissioner should have wide knowledge and experience of law, Rodrigues in his notice has alleged that Padwal had no knowledge and experience in law whatsoever and also did not possess the eminence required for the position.

Stating that the State Information Commissioner would be drawing a salary equivalent to that of the Chief Secretary of around Rs 1, 20,000 a month, he has stated that it was important to ensure that the person appointed did not become a liability and embarrassment to the state for five long years.

He also said that the State Information Commissioner be a person with a very sound legal background as was rightly mandated in the RTI Act itself.