Our Aires bab has a point and his letter is self explanatory. Stephen Dias
From: Aires Rodrigues <airesrodrigu...@gmail.com> To: goanet <goa...@goanet.org> Subject: [Goanet] NOW BJP FLAG IS HOISTED AT THE STATE INFORMATION COMMISSION TOO Message-ID: <CAHriWMjCYUqEXgqRYaY+o277Dd7s876Ei_WhYkQy1YbAo_=n...@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" The skewed manner in which the Goa Government selected the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and the State Information Commissioner (SIC) comes as no surprise. As both these posts carry a very handsome monthly salary of Rs 2, 25,000 each, besides other perks, it was imperative that the best and brightest should have been chosen for these coveted positions. Besides the 32 candidates who applied for the post of CIC and the 25 for SIC, there were definitely many more qualified meritorious individuals. Eminence in public life as required and a very sound knowledge of law should have been the guiding factor in selection for these vital posts. The selection for any post has to be always free, fair, transparent and not vitiated by political inter meddling. Failure to do so erodes the faith and trust of the very people it is designed to serve. Despite Section 15 (6) of the Right to Information Act specifically mandating that the CIC and SIC should not be connected with any political party, we now have a CIC who is a former Speaker and a very prominent active leader of the ruling BJP. Even if he now resigns from his deep roots with that party it would not pull the wool over anyone?s eyes. That after occupying that high August Chair as Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly he chose to stoop to be CIC is another issue. Unfortunately, politicians today don?t work towards moving upwards, they sink to any levels to grab any and every Chair possible. The RTI Act is a powerful and potent tool to expose corruption and maladministration, and in this direction an independent and effective Information Commission is a vital mechanism that has to be in place. To ensure proper implementation of the Act, the Information Commission should comprise of independent minded persons of integrity, who would not succumb to the pressures and pulls of politicians in power. Their primary focus must be to defend the rights and liberty of individuals to have access to information, files and documents pertaining to the Governmental operations, performance and decisions. The all important Institution of Lokayukta, Human Rights Commission, State Information Commission and Police Complaints Authority are all bodies constituted by law and each one of them has a purpose besides a clear mandate. A lot of public money is spent in running these authorities constituted to deliver justice to the citizens and bring to book the wrong doers. So by keeping politicians at bay and to ensure true independence in their functioning, it would be proper to entrust the High Court the meticulous selection of non-partisan very qualified persons with integrity to man these bodies efficiently and serve the society. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar ? Goa ? 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com