Big demand for UP Info Commissioner’s post
24 Aug 2012 3:30 PM IST
There is a long list of aspirants for the eight seats of Information Commissioner that are lying vacant in Uttar Pradesh. This list includes retired judges of the High Court, retired bureaucrats, and even a few journalists who are all vying for these coveted posts.
A senior official in the chief minister’s office said Akhilesh Yadav held a meeting with the top officials of CM’s secretariat to short-list possible candidates for the Information Commissioner’s post. ‘He is in a real mire whom to chose and whom to leave as the list contains names of judges, bureaucrats, party leaders and even a few journalists,’ the officer said in jest.
The officer’s statement underlines the importance of the post of Information Commissioner in Uttar Pradesh. Despite this being a constitutional post enjoying a ‘lal batti’ status, the Information Commissioner enjoys the perks that include a salary of Rs 1.30 lakh a month, free government accommodation and other perks which the state chief secretary is entitled to. Uttar Pradesh, home to 20 million people, has 13 posts of Information Commissioners headed by a Chief Information Commissioner.
The posts of Information Commissioners are filled by hand-picked candidates. In Mayawati’s tenure, wife of her OSD Jameel Akhtar, was appointed Information Commissioner despite her being not even a graduate. She took the oath and has not attended office for the last seven months. Mayawati had also appointed one of her party’s district presidents as Information Commissioner.
During Mulayam Singh Yadav’s regime, two senior journalists were appointed as Information Commissioners. In the same period, a controversial doctor got the coveted post. The trio has retired since then. ‘There are four applications from journalists and seven from retired bureaucrats. Three retired judges of High Court too have shown their willingness to join as Information Commissioners.
Besides, there are some political candidates too,’ the official said.
A senior official in the chief minister’s office said Akhilesh Yadav held a meeting with the top officials of CM’s secretariat to short-list possible candidates for the Information Commissioner’s post. ‘He is in a real mire whom to chose and whom to leave as the list contains names of judges, bureaucrats, party leaders and even a few journalists,’ the officer said in jest.
The officer’s statement underlines the importance of the post of Information Commissioner in Uttar Pradesh. Despite this being a constitutional post enjoying a ‘lal batti’ status, the Information Commissioner enjoys the perks that include a salary of Rs 1.30 lakh a month, free government accommodation and other perks which the state chief secretary is entitled to. Uttar Pradesh, home to 20 million people, has 13 posts of Information Commissioners headed by a Chief Information Commissioner.
The posts of Information Commissioners are filled by hand-picked candidates. In Mayawati’s tenure, wife of her OSD Jameel Akhtar, was appointed Information Commissioner despite her being not even a graduate. She took the oath and has not attended office for the last seven months. Mayawati had also appointed one of her party’s district presidents as Information Commissioner.
During Mulayam Singh Yadav’s regime, two senior journalists were appointed as Information Commissioners. In the same period, a controversial doctor got the coveted post. The trio has retired since then. ‘There are four applications from journalists and seven from retired bureaucrats. Three retired judges of High Court too have shown their willingness to join as Information Commissioners.
Besides, there are some political candidates too,’ the official said.
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