By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Opposition NCP has demanded the appointment of the Information Commissioners at Tura and Jowai.
While referring to the Supreme Court ruling in a case in Himachal Pradesh relating to the appointment of the Information Commissioners, Leader of Opposition Conrad K Sangma said that this ruling of the apex court can be used by other States as persuasive incident.
“I fail to understand why the State Government has not taken any cognizance to this ruling of the Supreme Court for appointment of Information Commissioners in Tura and Jowai,” Sangma said during Question Hour on Monday.
He also said that the Selection Committee in its meeting, which he had attended, had endorsed on the appointment of two more Information Commissioners in the State.
Taking into account the number of the RTI complaints being filed in the State, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, in his reply, said that the Government does not think that the situation calls for appointment of two more Information Commissioners at present.
“The people in the State are not very familiar with the revolutionary RTI Act. We would need to conduct a massive awareness campaign to educate the people with the various provisions of this Act,” Dr Mukul said.
He said that there would be an increase in the number of RTI complaints only when the common people of the State are well versed with the various provision of this Act.
On the ruling of the Supreme Court, the Chief Minister said that it is not mandatory for the State Government to abide by the ruling of the apex court in relation with the appointment of Information Commissioners in Himachal Pradesh.
