Srinagar, Feb 23 (KNS): J&K RTI Movement has welcomed the appointment retired IAS officer, Khursheed Ahmad Ganaie as Chief Information Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the government’s decision is a vital move to safeguard transparency in governance in the state. However, it said that the appointment of retired bureaucrats for such posts must be discontinued.
In a statement issued to KNS, Dr. Shaikh Ghulam Rasool, Chairman J&K RTI Movement and Co-Convener NCPRI said that the Commissioner’s post is vital for making the J&K RTI law and its institution workable.
He said it further needs to be made certain that retired bureaucrat-centric-approach while appointing commissioners should discontinue, as the Section 12(5) of J&K RTI Act 2009 clearly lays, “The state chief information commissioner and State information commissioners shall be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration.”
J&K RTI Movement expresses a concern over delaying appointment of two information commissioners. “The further appointment of the commissioners shall be made prompt. Simultaneously, government should keep in view the appropriate and adequate representation of women while making additional appointments,” Dr Shaikh said.
Ganie, a retired IAS officer, was appointed as CIC by the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP government on Wednesday.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe post was lying vacant since March 2016.
He said that appointing state chief information commissioner and rest of the commissioners alone won’t do till RTI rules 2010 are not restored as the J&K RTI rules restoration is a crucial requirement to strengthen the state information commission.
“It is here to remind Mehbooba Mufti that she personally disapproved the move of taking down RTI rules in 2012, when in opposition and now it befits her obligation to restore the rules if she sticks to her word,” he demanded.
He said as a complete package, the Section-4(voluntary disclosure of information) and Section-23 (awareness and trainings) of J&K RTI Act-2009, which are the key sections of law and which guarantee effective implementation of transparency and participatory governance need to be taken into keen consideration and correspondingly exercised.
He further added branch offices of the state information commission at Ladakh, Pirpanjhal valley and Chenab valley are essential be established. “The primary reason being the demography vis-à-vis climate of these regions doesn’t allow the inhabitants to have an easy access to Srinagar and Jammu offices, hence depriving the very people -enjoy the powerful law with all its essence,” he added. (KNS)