While the commission is allowed to have 10 commissioners plus the chief, in Maharashtra, the state created eight posts including that of chief
The State Chief Information Commissioner, Ratnakar Gaikwad in a letter to the Chief Minister has asked that posts of three information commissioners should be filled up soon. The letter is the third one in a year's time. The letter is also written to the Chief Secretary.
While the commission is allowed to have 10 commissioners plus the chief, in Maharashtra, the state created eight posts including that of chief. Posts of three benches — Nashik, Aurangabad and Amravati have been lying vacant and 8,900, 5,324, 9,578 appeals pending.
"Despite higher disposal as compared to other places, in some of the benches the pendency is over two years. Unless commissions dispose cases in less than three months, they will stop being able to service the average citizen. If vacancies are continued they will become like our courts, which have rendered dysfunctional because of vacancies," wrote Shailesh Gandhi, former Central Information Commissioner and added, "Select five more commissioners who have a predilection for transparency and an empathy and understanding of the RTI Act."
"It is also important that the process of selection is transparent," said Gandhi.
"They should have a transparent process and some competition on who will be able to uphold the spirit of the RTI Act. Unfortunately, unlike DoPT guidelines for appointments of commissioners at CIC, the state still does not have a guideline. They should either have one or follow the centre one for time being. If they appoint abruptly like it was done in Gujarat, chances are that there will be litigation."
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis when contacted did not respond to the sms from DNA.
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 "Ratnakar Gaikwad")
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