Right to Information activists have registered their strong protest against former senior bureaucrat AMK Nayak as the state chief information commissioner.
Right to Information (RTI) activists have registered their strong protest against former senior bureaucrat AMK Nayak as the state chief information commissioner (CIC).
The state government, in its order on Friday, had announced the selection of Nayak as the CIC. However, DNA, in its report had disclosed that Nayak was an ardent opponent of the RTI Act and did not deserve to be heading the information commission.
The RTI activists, advocates and the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) spoke in unison opposing his appointment. Responding to the DNA report, a group of advocates under the banner of Mahithi Hakku Horata Kenrda Samithi, said they would oppose Nayak’s appointment. Their representation before Governor HR Bhardwaj stated that five names were recommended by the chief minister to the post of CIC and information commissioners.
“We understand that these selections are based on whether the persons were former IAS/IPS and to some extent they are political appointments. The committee that chose these persons did not look into their personal and professional background, probity in public life, contribution to transparency and accountability,” the petition alleged.
It also apprehended that the whole exercise of having the RTI, which had exposed several shortcomings in the state governance, will be defeated.
“Being the flagship legislation passed by the parliament since Independence, RTI has been considered arguably one of the best laws in the world that demanded transparency in public services. The integrity of the information commissioners can be considered as the best qualification for the appointment to that post,” the RTI activists said.
“The government should have been more careful before shortlisting the 52 applicants for the post of CIC. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, being a member of the committee member of selecting CIC, should immediately look into the matter. This officer has been opposing transparency from his service days. Nominating such a person for CIC post is not correct,” said former speaker of Karnataka Krishna.
“In neighbouring Maharashtra, one information commissioner has already been asked to resign. This paints a very sorry picture of the government. We fear this will soon happen to Karnataka government too, if these nominations get the assent,” he said.
The Karnataka RTI Mahila Manch members said there should not be any appointment of persons with political or administrative service background to the post. “If they do not fit the transparency and accountability bill, they are not fit to hold the post, they said.
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