Jharkhand RTI Forum submit memorandum to Governor on CIC appointment

Vinod Kumar Gupta
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
RANCHI: An attempt by the Jharkhand Government to appoint former Chief Secretary A.K. Basu as the state’s Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) has invited criticism from Jharkhand RTI Forum. The state Government has recommended his name to Governor for appointment as CIC.

A Delegation of Jharkhand RTI Forum led by its Secretary Vishnu Raigadia met the Governor of Jharkhand on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum opposing the appointment of Basu as Chief Information Commissioner as corruption cases were filed against him by Central Vigilance Commission when he was Secretary Damodar Valley Corporation.

Even several members of Parliament had written letter to the Prime Minister against him at that time.

A K Jain Additional Secretary general AIPEF had submitted documents pertaining to various irregularities amounting to Rs. 3.34 crores to Central Vigilance Commission in December 2005. The commission had marked enquiry on this basis.

“We want the new information commissioner to be honest. The government should also follow a
transparent process for recruiting him,” said Rajgadia. The forum is also planning to move court.

RTI forum has alleged that the process of appointment is not transparent. Even no meeting was held and the signatures of all three members were taken in very objectionable manner which creates several doubts.

AK Basu is a tainted officer. One complaint was registered in Central Vigilance Commission in November 2004 against him, the then Secretary of Damodar Valley Corporation.

Corruption is a major issue in this new born state. A former chief
Minister is behind bar along with four ministers in serious corruption
charges.

The RTI is a big tool for transparency and accountability and the Information Commissioners should be the persons with integrity, said Raigadia.