Ex-judges criticise SC move to challenge order on RTI

They have resolved to send a copy of the resolution to the Bar associations across the country and form a public opinion on the issue.

The group comprises former Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court T U Mehta,former Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court A P Ravani,former judges of the Gujarat High Court R A Mehta and R C Makad,former SC judge M B Shah,former Advocate General of Gujarat K H Kaji,senior Gujarat HC advocate Girish Patel,and some social and legal activists.

The release further stated that people expect “openness,transparency and accountability from the highest court of our country”,which would set an ideal for others. “The special stand of the Supreme Court that such disclosures (of assets under RTI) will compromise the authority of the court is not well-founded. On the

contrary,secrecy and non-transparency on the part of the Supreme Court will seriously affect its authority and legitimacy.”

Girish Patel told The Indian Express that the group has formed a three-member committee,which will decide further course of action to form a public opinion over the issue. Patel is one of the members of the committee.

Two more information commissioners appointed

Governor Kamla Beniwal has passed an order for appointment of two new commissioners to the Gujarat Information Commission.

Nethra Shenoy,an officer of the 1969 batch,who was former chairperson of the Gujarat State Finance Corporation,and Arvind Shukla,who was earlier principal secretary to the Governor,have been appointed as commissioners. Chief Information Commissioner RN Das confirmed this.

Compared to smaller states like Goa,which has three Information Commissioners,Gujarat had just one CIC earlier. NGOs and RTI activists had been demanding more commissioners as the number of cases pending before the commission are increasing each day.

Asked how it will benefit the information seekers,Das said: “It will quicken the number of disposals. Instead one there will be three commissioners now.” The pending cases have gone up to 5,000 this year. Every year the inflow of cases is quite large. The development will help in adequately addressing the issues.”

He further said: “It is not only the RTI complaints or appeals. New dimensions are coming which involves interpretations of law. The increase in number will help us delve in to it.”