‘SC DECISION AFFECTING INFORMATION COMMISSIONS’

Hindustan Times (Lucknow), 22 Oct 2012. Page4   http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx# page 4 22 Oct 2012 Hindustan Times (Lucknow)HT Correspondentlkoreportersdesk@hindustantimes.com 'SC DECISION AFFECTING INFORMATION COMMISSIONS' Having two-member benches will do more harm than any good to the information commissions. It will further prolong the justice delivering time. JUSTICE (RETD) KAMLESH WA RNAT H LUCKNOW: The recent Supreme Court decision regarding the appointment of information commissioners was discussed during a seminar organised by Yaishwaryaj Seva Sansthan at the UP Press Club on Sunday. Justice (retd) Kamleshwar Nath was the chief guest of the function. "The decision has affected the functioning of the commissions across the country. Some of the elements of the verdict are impractical," said Justice (retd) Nath. Explaining his apprehensions, he said, "Having twomember benches (a judicial member and an expert) will do more harm than any good to the information commissions. It will further prolong the justice delivering time." "The order says that a retired SC judge should be appointed as CIC, which again is not possible. Both retire at 65 years. A high court judge retires at 62, so only he can have three years as CIC," he added. Earlier, activist Nutan Thakur emphasised that unless the state government implements the RTI Act in letter and spirit, things won't improve. DAV college faculty DD Sharma said, "The government should appoint efficient people as commissioners. Only then can we expect good results."