Comparing performance of the information commissions across the country with that of Russian Roulette, former chief central information commissioner (CIC), Satyanand Mishra emphasised on the need for good performance on a consistent basis. "As of now, they are performing like a Russian Roulette where in one odd one performs well among the group. That should not be the case," said Mishra.
Mishra was speaking on the "Role of information commissions and key performance indicators of commissions" on the second day of "Western India RTI Convention 2014". During his term as a chief commissioner, the commission had, for the first time, set a target of minimum number of appeals that should be heard by each commissioner.
Mishra added that commissions need to look at certain indicators through which their performance can be judged. These included language and tenor of the orders, their length, content of the order, infrastructure and staff.
"The language of the orders should be simple and the length should be short. There is no need to go on citing various case studies. Similarly, daily turn out should be decided by commissions," added Mishra. The central information commission that he once headed cleared an average of 177 appeals in May. "Although the appeals pending are over 22,000, the point is that there is a need to clear at least 350 appeals in a month. As a commissioner, I now feel that I could have done more," conceded former state chief information commissioner, Suresh Joshi.
Mishra stated that the commissions needed to put their heads together to decide how much time an application should be given as per their shelf life. "Shelf life of the information on Indo-China war may be of a longer duration as compared to details sought on water connection. Commissions need to decided how much time they should be giving different kinds of information sought," said Mishra. Appointments of information commissioners was another crucial part of the performance of the commissions. "The attitude is important of the commissioner who comes to the commission. Their attitude creates an environment," said Mishra, who is credited to have passed the order bringing political parties under the ambit of the RTI.
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