Morung Express News
October 28
DIMAPUR: The Chief Minister has appointed Tokheho Yepthomi, Cabinet Minister of Works & Housing as the third member of the Appointments Committee towards selecting the State’s Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and other Information Commissioners. Under The Right to Information Act, the State CIC is to be appointed by the Chief Minister, the Leader of Opposition and a Cabinet Minister. What was surprising, though, is that the Leader of Opposition I Imkong until very recently had still not been notified by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) despite the Act coming into force on October 12. “I am in constant contact with my PS. He has not received such a notification till date,” Imkong said over telephone a few days back. When asked to comment if he had any prospective names in his mind as to who could be Nagaland’s first CIC Imkong said, “I will react only after I receive the notification from the CMO.”
Meanwhile, Lalthara, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Nagaland has divulged that there will only be a State CIC who would be appointed and there would not be any Information Commissioners as this was not required in the context of a small State like Nagaland.
It may be mentioned that excepting certain information which is exempt from the Act, people can now ask for information from government departments through Public Information Officers. “Almost all departments have appointed PIOs,” Lalthara said.
In related news, the Jharkhand Government has failed miserably to create the necessary delivery mechanism for effective implementation of the Right to Information Act and spreading awareness in this connection, according to a news report. “Some people on Saturday last were spotted moving from one floor to another in the state secretariat trying to get information about the Act, but failed to do so as they were not allowed to meet any senior official,” the report said.
