Search of SIBS is on for the post of Maharashtra State Information Commissioners

In Maharashtra search is on of SIBS (Senior Indian Bureaucrats) for the post of State Information Commissioners (SIC). In Maharashtra, it is now high time for appointments of information commissioners. On 18th July, state information commissioner Bhaskar Patil who was initially appointed on Amravati bench of state information commission and then transferred (?) to Nagpur bench will retire. So there is confusion about which post will be vacant Nagpur or Aurangabad? Already there are three posts vacant and on 18th total four posts will become vacant.

As it is always said that information commissions have become parking lot of retired bureaucrats.It will be interesting to see whether government of Maharashtra fills all the vacant posts at time or waits for some time for some bureaucrats to become senior citizens to fill some posts. Few senior bureaucrats are about to retire in next few months. Some of them have already applied for post of SIC.

Earlier due to Supreme Courts judgement in most controversial Namit Sharma case, there was confusion about appointment of information commissioners. However, when after review petition, Supreme Court gave some relief and stay was granted on some points. but following points remained as it is. Hence, it is mandatory for every government to follow those. These points are

1) The appointment of the Information Commissioners at both levels should be made from amongst the persons empanelled by the DoPT in the case of Centre and the concerned Ministry in the case of a State. The panel has to be prepared upon due advertisement and on a rational basis as afore-recorded.

2) The panel so prepared by the DoPT or the concerned Ministry ought to be placed before the High-powered Committee in terms of Section 12(3), for final recommendation to the President of India. Needless to repeat that the High Powered Committee at the Centre and The State levels are expected to adopt a fair and transparent method of recommending the names for appointment to the competent authority.

3) The selection process should be commenced at least three months prior to the occurrence of vacancy

Government of Maharashtra has followed none of them .No prior advertisement has been given and hence question of preparing panel does not arise at all. What government of Maharashtra has done is that, it has only prepared panel from the application received directly without advertisement. Many of these application have recommendations of MP', MLA's and Political parties. Let us see whoes recomandation has more weightage? .