Activists, be confident. Apply for posts of SIC & CIC

Dear fellow citizens & activists,

To apply
· for the post of Central Info. Commissioner, go to http://tinyurl.com/applyforcic

· To apply for Maharashtra SIC, go to http://tinyurl.com/ApplyForMahaSIC

· To apply for Tamil Nadu SIC, go to www.tinyurl.com/applyforTNSIC

Karo zyaada ka iraada! Each of us may send applications for all of the above posts!

Why? Why now?

It is time for us in civil-society to confidently claim what belongs to us. RTI Act Section 12(5) and 15(5) make it clear that the post of Information Commissioner is primarily for us. This post is currently going to retired bureaucrats by default, as members of civil society are not applying at all! It is important for us as citizens to immediately shed our diffidence.

All the Chief Information Commissioners of States and Centre, and a large number of Information Commissioners, will retire in 2010, having completed their five-year term. Many vacancies will open up this year and next year. We must act now to ensure that members of civil society become Information Commissioners in the next round of appointments. It is equally important to ensure that appointments happen through a transparent procedure, and not according to the favours of ministers and top bureaucrats.

As part of a concerted civil society campaign, we all need to promptly apply in large numbers for the posts of State & Central Information Commissioners. Benefits:

* Firstly, there will be pressure on the system to appoint some good candidates from civil society as CICs or Chief CIC.

* Secondly, in order to cope with the large numbers of candidates from civil society, the government will be forced to introduce proper criteria and procedures for short-listing.

* Finally, if the government arbitrarily ignores our names and selects its own people without due procedure, eligibility criteria etc., we will have the locus standi to go to our High Courts with writ petitions against such appointments. There is a good chance of convincing the Court that this is violation of articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.

Please note: Your applying for the post does not mean that you have to be part of the legal battle that may follow. You are free not to do so. So participate in this campaign without fear and anxiety!

Warm Regards,


Madhav Vishnubhatta , Chennai, 98403 27303
Krishnaraj Rao, Mumbai, 98215 88114