*Govt yet to frame panel of probables for CIC, ICs
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 22: In a major set-back to the transparency regime in Jammu and Kashmir, the functioning of State Information Commission (SIC) is all set to come to a grinding halt as the only sitting Information Commissioner is going to complete his term by middle of next month but the PDP-BJP Coalition Govern-ment has yet not even framed the panel of probables for the posts of Chief Information Commissioner and two Infor-mation Commissioners.
The State Information Commission, which is generally considered as transparency watchdog, was established under the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act in the month of February 2011. Though this vital Commission was divested of several powers by way of amendments in the RTI Act yet the first ever Chief Information Commissioner and two Information Commissioners of J&K left no stone unturned to make various organs of the Government accountable for disclosure of information under this landmark legislation.
In this way, transparency regime was established up to the satisfaction of the people of the State. However, the RTI regime received first big blow when one of the Information Commissi-oners Dr S K Sharma completed his term on October 31, 2015 but the Government failed to fill up this post soon after his retirement. Astonishingly, this post is still lying vacant even after the lapse of nearly one year.
The State Information Commission received second jolt when Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) G R Sufi completed his term on February 29 this year but the Government failed to make any arrangement in advance for filling up the post of CIC. Shockingly, the post is yet to be filled by the Govern-ment, which otherwise is making tall claims about ensuring transparency in its functioning.
“Now, this vital Commi-ssion will receive third and final blow in the middle of next month when the only sitting Information Commiss-ioner Nazir Ahmed will complete his term”, official sources told EXCELSIOR, adding “though in the absence of Chief Information Commiss-ioner and another Information Commissioner, Nazir Ahmed was trying his level best to dispose of the applications under Right to Information Act yet following completion of his term there will be nobody in the Commission to implement this important legislation and that will act as major setback to the transparency regime in Jammu and Kashmir”.
Stating that tall claims of the Government on ensuring transparency in its functioning stand exposed, sources said, “had there been any sort of seriousness in this regard the Government would have made selections for the posts of Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners well in advance”, adding “the most astonishing aspect is that General Administration Depart-ment has yet not been asked to frame a panel of probables for these posts”.
When contacted, a senior officer in the General Admi-nistration Department, confirmed, “no instruction has been received for preparation of panel of probables for the posts of CIC and ICs so far”, adding “as the Civil Secretariat is going to close in Srinagar within next few days, I think the process will be initiated only after opening of Darbar at Jammu on November 7”.
By maintaining blind eye towards vacant posts of Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioner during the past several months, the Government has clearly sent a message that it doesn’t want to ensure transparency in the functioning of its different organs, which otherwise were compelled to consider divulging of vital information under Right to Information Act as important part of their duty.
“The intensity of non-seriousness towards transparency watchdog doesn’t end on this aspect as Government has also failed to provide Secretary to State Information Commission during the past nearly one year and the charge of this important post is being held by an another officer on temporary basis”, sources said, adding “this is notwithstanding the fact that Secretary has to exercise all the administrative powers of the Commission”.
They further said, “what to talk of initiating timely steps to fill up the posts of the Information Commission on its own the Government has maintained indifferent attitude even after the directions from the State High Court about prompt filling up of the posts”.
As per the provisions of J&K Right to Information Act, the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioner shall be appointed by the Governor on the recommendations of a committee consisting of Chief Minister, who shall be Chairperson of the committee, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and a Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Chief Minister as its Members.
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