Governor urged to strengthen Information Commission by initiating action against erring officials
Belagavi-based RTI activist Bheemappa Gadad has complained to the Governor against Information Commissioners saying that they are weakening the Right to Information Act by not
Belagavi-based RTI activist Bheemappa Gadad has complained to the Governor against Information Commissioners saying that they are weakening the Right to Information Act by not enforcing it properly. “I have complained to the Governor against the Information Commissioners in the State. The Governor should take immediate action on the serious allegations made against the Chief Commissioner and Commissioners of the State Information Commission. If there is no action, then, I will be constrained to resort to legal action,” Mr. Gadad said.
He told reporters in Belagavi on Tuesday that along with him, several activists and members of various organisations have also written to the State government against the Information Commissioners. “We submitted all necessary documents to the Chief Secretary earlier but, there has been no action. Then, we wrote to the Governor. However, there has been no action against them till now,” he said. “If the allegations are not investigated immediately, then, we will be forced to take up legal action,” Mr. Gadad said.
“As the Constitutional head of the State, the Governor should protect all Constitutional and government institutions. He should take up the responsibility of strengthening the State Information Commission by initiating action against erring officials,” he said. Gadad also said that the appointment of the Chief Information Commissioner and other Information Commissioners has not been properly carried out. “The State government has violated a Supreme Court directive about the appointment process. It calls for constitution of a search committee before the appointment.
But that was not done. A case has been registered in the High Court against this. The Information Commissioners have been saying that they will blacklist activists who file more than 25 applications. This is not backed by law. The Information Commissioners are summarily rejecting some applications giving trivial reasons. This is not acceptable,” he said.
The BriefWire