ID :
90648
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 08:52
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/90648
The shortlink copeid
PM to meet Advani, Moily tomorrow, to finalise new CIC
New Delhi, Nov 19 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh is likely to meet Opposition Leader L K Advani and Law
Minister Veerappa Moily Friday to finalise the name of the
new Chief Information Commissioner.
Official sources said the meeting is likely to take
place Friday evening - a day before Singh leaves for his
State visit to the US.
The meeting, which will take place almost a month
after incumbent CIC Wajahat Habibullah resigned, is being
looked forward to by RTI activists who are demanding
transparency in the selection process and pressing for the
appointment of a non-bureaucrat to the post.
While there is no official confirmation about the
candidates shortlisted for the post, several names, including
those of Civil Aviation Secretary Madhavan Nambiar,
environmentalist Shekhar Singh and Information Commissioner A
N Tiwari are doing rounds.
The PM-Advani meeting to finalise the name for the
coveted post was to take place on October 27 but it was
deferred with the authorities citing no reason.
The activists had also written to Singh, United
Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader
of Opposition L K Advani asking to finalise the rules and
process for the selection of the CIC before naming the new
chief.
They said while the RTI Act specifies the composition
of selection committee but it is silent about the process like
advertising and shortlisting to be adopted before finalising
the name.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the
activists at the Delhi High Court seeking transparency in the
selection process was also turned down. The court advised the
appellants that they should build a public movement to garner
support for making necessary changes in the transparency law.
As per the law, the charge of the CIC cannot be handed
over to any other person on ad hoc basis. Even if Habibullah
wishes to do so, the new person's name needs to be ratified by
the three-member committee.
Habibullah will be joining as the first State
Information Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir soon. PTI ABS
MYR
Singh is likely to meet Opposition Leader L K Advani and Law
Minister Veerappa Moily Friday to finalise the name of the
new Chief Information Commissioner.
Official sources said the meeting is likely to take
place Friday evening - a day before Singh leaves for his
State visit to the US.
The meeting, which will take place almost a month
after incumbent CIC Wajahat Habibullah resigned, is being
looked forward to by RTI activists who are demanding
transparency in the selection process and pressing for the
appointment of a non-bureaucrat to the post.
While there is no official confirmation about the
candidates shortlisted for the post, several names, including
those of Civil Aviation Secretary Madhavan Nambiar,
environmentalist Shekhar Singh and Information Commissioner A
N Tiwari are doing rounds.
The PM-Advani meeting to finalise the name for the
coveted post was to take place on October 27 but it was
deferred with the authorities citing no reason.
The activists had also written to Singh, United
Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader
of Opposition L K Advani asking to finalise the rules and
process for the selection of the CIC before naming the new
chief.
They said while the RTI Act specifies the composition
of selection committee but it is silent about the process like
advertising and shortlisting to be adopted before finalising
the name.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the
activists at the Delhi High Court seeking transparency in the
selection process was also turned down. The court advised the
appellants that they should build a public movement to garner
support for making necessary changes in the transparency law.
As per the law, the charge of the CIC cannot be handed
over to any other person on ad hoc basis. Even if Habibullah
wishes to do so, the new person's name needs to be ratified by
the three-member committee.
Habibullah will be joining as the first State
Information Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir soon. PTI ABS
MYR
