Activists demand transparent system for appointing CIC

New Delhi, Nov 18 : Right to Information (RTI) activists from across the country Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding that the next Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) be appointed through a transparent, inclusive and participatory process.

"The process of appointments to the posts of information commissioners is non-transparent and arbitrary. Many people from across the country have been repeatedly requesting the government to make this process transparent, inclusive and participatory so that it throws up credible and effective people. However, no action has been taken in this regard," the activists said in their letter.

"For the post of CIC � some names are doing the rounds as being in the consideration list. How did these names make it to that list? Dr (Manmohan) Singh, we are sure that a person like you cannot approve of such a secret, unholy and unhealthy process," the letter added.

The letter has been signed by RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and members of RTI groups of various states. A similar letter has been sent to United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Lok Sabha's opposition leader L.K. Advani.

The post of CIC fell vacant after Wajahat Habibullah resigned last month to head the Information Commission of Jammu and Kashmir on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's request. The decision to select the new CIC is expected to be taken by the end of this week.

The activists demanded that the government make public the names being considered for the post.

"Kindly disclose the names on the final consideration list. Which names were received by the government from across the country? In addition to Kiran Bedi, we understand that the government has received candidature of at least 100 people. How were some of them found suitable and others unsuitable?," the activists asked.

They alleged that these posts are being used to reward political loyalists, and said "people who worked in the PMO, as DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training) secretaries and the government's spokespersons have been appointed as information commissioners."

The activists highlighted the process adopted by Indonesia for the appointment of information commissioners.

"In Indonesia, the government first publicised for the post of seven information commissioners through national dailies, invited public feedback on over 300 applications receive, and NGOs helped in tracking down their pasts. They were then subjected to psychological and written tests. On the basis of all these inputs, 21 persons were shortlisted, who were then interviewed by parliamentary committee in public view. Finally, seven persons were selected," said Kejriwal.

"We request you to adopt this process for appointment of CICs and to recommend it to all state governments, especially the Congress-ruled states. The UPA gave this wonderful legislation to this country. Let it not be seen wanting in strictly enforcing and implementing it," the activists said.

The CIC is appointed by a committee of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and a cabinet minister.

The activists also urged Advani not to attend any meeting of the appointing committee till the government puts a transparent system in place for the appointment of information commissioners.