The Maharashtra State Information Commission is headless for the past five months; the files containing names of shortlisted candidates is forwarded and is pending with the Chief Minister’s office, according to a reply by the General Administration Department to a RTI filed by Anil Galgali.
The RTI filed by Galgali sought information from the General Administration Department regarding the names of the shortlisted candidates for the position of the Chief Information Commissioner. The Under Secretary of the GAD, Shri S P Khade informed, “Ratnakar Gaikwad’s term as CIC ended on May 29, 2017 and hence, he has retired after handing over the charges to Ajit Kumar Jain, Information Commissioner, Greater Mumbai.”
“On the further queries about the names of the shortlisted candidates and also details of why and which level is the appointment of a new CIC pending with the government, the department stated that the file for approval has been submitted to the CM’s office and hence, they are not in position at the moment to provide the list of shortlisted candidates. The department has also promised to provide the detailed information once the file returns back to the department after necessary approvals,” Galgali stated.
He further added, “In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, I have demanded that the appointment of the Chief Information Commissioner should be immediately done to enable the held up work at the Information Commission to move forward and to ease up the inconvenience being caused to common man who are awaiting orders on their appeals before the CIC.”
