Aaryan Sharma
JAMMU: Ten months after the office of State Information Commission (SIC) became headless on account of completion of five-year term of Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) on February 29, 2016, the BJP-PDP government is yet to find a suitable candidate to fill the vacant post.
At present the three most crucial posts of CIC along with two State Information Commissioners are lying vacant making it defunct.
Ironically, soon after Mehbooba Mufti-led alliance government assumed charge, the issue of filling vacant seats was taken up ahead of finalising the core agenda of governance.
Loud talks of ensuring transparency and delivering good and responsive governance was repeated but it appears the same mandarins have completely forgotten to address the issue.
Since working of the State machinery took a major hit in the aftermath of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani and crippling cycle of violence, the alliance partners could not spare enough time to initiate the formal selection process.
The Chief Minister is heading the Selection Committee along with Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly and senior cabinet minister as its members. The Governor makes the formal appointment on the recommendations of the Selection Committee.
According to the Home page of the official website of State Information Commission, three posts of CIC and two SIC’s have been lying vacant.
As per the weekly cause list published on the website, the last hearing on applications was conducted by Nazeer Ahmed between November 11-14, 2016.
After that no information has been made available on the website hinting clearly that in the absence of SIC no application was listed for hearing or ongoing discussion before the Commission.
According to official sources, “In the absence of CIC it is becoming difficult for the Commission to ensure smooth working of the office. There is no one in the Commission who can exercise administrative and financial powers to manage the routine affairs”.
It may be mentioned here the first Chief Information Commissioner, G R Sufi completed his five-year tenure on February 29.
Another State Information Commissioner, Dr S K Sharma, demitted the office on October 31, 2015, on completion of his tenure strictly as per the provisions of the Act. Nazeer Ahmed stayed alone in the office but he too vacated the office after completing his tenure in November 2016.
