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| Appointment of Information Commissioners for SIC | | Second meeting next week, Mehbooba likely to attend | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, Oct 23: In what appears the matter having been nearly sorted out by opposition PDP and ruling NC over appointment of Chief Information Commissioner and two Information Commissioners for the State Information Commission, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti is likely to attend the second meeting being convened by the government .The meeting has been scheduled next week , mostly likely on Monday, October 25.
After exchange of letters by the two leaders, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, both of whom are the members of the selection panel on October 5 over the matter, it seems the opposition PDP has made up its mind to attend the crucial meeting in which the three names will be finalised for the Commission to make it functional. The three member selection Committee comprises Deputy Chief Minister Tarachand as the third member. While CM and Deputy CM are there as members from two major allies of the coalition government, Mehbooba is in capacity of Leader of Opposition.
Administrative sources said the government does not want to keep the matter of appointments pending as it would further delay the functioning of the Information Commission which has already been stalled for over eight months now. Since the first meeting of the selection committee was aborted due to non participation of Leader of Opposition Mehbooba Mufti, following clarification on certain aspects she was apparently apprehensive about by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the same day in his letter, sources indicated Mehbooba has made up her mind to attend the second meeting. Earlier in the day on October 5 upon receiving invitation for the meeting, Mehbooba had expressed some reservations citing these as reasons for choosing not to attend the meeting.
Government, however, instead of ignoring her reservations, apparently to keep opposition on board in this matter decided to clarify its intentions on the names and sought participation of Mehbooba in the second meeting so that the process on selection could be initiated seriously after discussion on the names. In his reply to Mehbooba's letter Omar had contended that it was imperative on part of the government to ensure complete transparency in the matter and that the persons to be appointed for this vital Commission needed to be those having high integrity, commitment besides bringing their varied, rich experience , knowledge through different fields to make it truly vibrant and result oriented. Omar had also dismissed the names as 'speculative' in circulation contending the approval on all the three posts would be after thorough discussion by the members of the selection Committee.
However, the Opposition leader Mehbooba is still sore over what she alleges that was not taken into confidence on certain names which she believes have been brought into the panel of probable contenders. "If I am the member of the panel, I should know at least some background of the persons so that while giving approval or disapproval, I have the rational reason….", said Mehbooba Mufti. If they have finalised some names they should have sent the same to me as well……after all it is a vital job and I cannot go there for mere presence .", she added. However, she did not rule out her participation in the second meeting being convened by the government next week.
Sources said even though there are certain names doing rounds in the administrative circle, a senior administrative officer of senior rank, who is reaching superannuation in next few months is lobbying hard for getting the covetted post of Chief Information Commissioner. As for the two information officers, there are two more names of the senior, albeit retired bureaucrats whom the government mulls to appoint on account of their rich and diversified experience for the job. SIC, upon appointment of these officers would mainly be responsible for implementation of RTI in the state , including hearing appeals and complaints , issuing order on public complaints and even levying fines on various departments.
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