Would the MP Information Commission be operational before the state elections?
30 Aug, 2013The Madhya Pradesh state government had issued an advertisement on June 13 inviting applications for posts of chief information commissioner and information commissioners in the State Information Commission (SIC) seeking applications from eligible candidates by June 25, 2013. Fifty-four applications were received for the post of chief information commissioner while 180 persons applied for the posts of information commissioner with a few candidates applied for both the posts. The process of appointment was initiated following the MP high court direction on January 23 to the state government to fill up the posts within three weeks.
The state general administration department (GAD) is yet to initiate steps to expedite the filling up of the vacancies despite passage of more than two months. With the model code of conduct likely to come into force any time after September 15, it appears difficult to complete the process in such a short time. The list of persons who have applied to occupy the state information commission includes serving and retired IAS, IPS and IFS officers; senior members of judiciary, lawyers, industrialists, social workers, office bearers of different commissions and even some media persons. RTI activists have charged the state government of deliberately delaying the process of appointment to keep the SIC non-operational till the assembly polls are over.