SC to hear on transparency in CIC selections -Governance Now

SC to hear on transparency in CIC selections

The petition was dismissed by the Delhi HC

Danish Raza | December 17, 2010

The supreme court on Thursday admitted the special leave petition (SLP) filed by activist Arvind Kejriwal demanding transparency in the selection of central information commissioners.

The court issued notice to the union government, asking for their replies and rejoinders.

In October, Delhi high court had dismissed the writ petition at the admission stage. “We cannot restrict the discretionary power of the high- powered committee headed by the prime minister to decide on the appointment of the chief information commissioner…. We cannot legislate or frame rules," a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Manmohan had said on October 21. (see related story).

Andhra Pradesh high court and Tamil Nadu high court have admitted similar writ petitions filed by RTI activists.

Central information commissioners are appointed by the president on the recommendation of a selection committee comprising of the prime minister, leader of the opposition and a minister of the union cabinet.

RTI activists across the country have been saying the information commissions at the centre and states have become ‘parking lots’ for retired bureaucrats.

They have been demanding transparency in the selection procedure of the information commissioners.

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