Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 2
As reported in The Morung Express that the most probable candidate for Nagaland’s first Chief Information Commissioner is P Talitemjen Ao, an official notification has confirmed that the recently retired, former Chief Secretary is to hold the new high profile post. Talitemjen’s name was officially recommended for appointment as Chief State Information Commissioner (CIC) by the Selection Committee instituted compliant to the Right to Information Act (RTI).
The announcement was made during the farewell dinner hosted in his honour after his stint as Chief Secretary. The Chief Minister declared that P Talitemjen was the consensus choice owing to his un-blemished career as a non-political and non-tribalistic bureaucrat. He was called the rare gentleman with dedication to service, worthy of emulation and a role-model for all civil servants.
The Opposition Leader, I Imkong professed admiration for P. Talitemjen’s honesty and uprightness and expressed hope that he would execute his duties efficiently as Chief Information Commissioner. The Chief Minister hoped that he would be ‘the man of justice to deliver justice’ as the first CIC.
The recommendations were forwarded to the Governor of Nagaland, Shyamal Datta’s office recently by the Selection committee comprising of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Leader of Opposition I Imkong and Tokheho Yepthomi, Minister of Works & Housing. The official appointment could not be expedited since the Governor was out of station.
It may also be mentioned that The Morung Express in its Editorial ‘Info Pathway’ written after the path breaking Right to Information Act (RTI) came into force across the country during October of 2005 had then “hoped that the Appointments Committee will do justice by appointing the right people based on the criteria laid out under the RTI Act” and had suggested the then incumbent Chief Secretary P Talitemjen Ao for the post of the State Chief Information Commissioner.
The Right to Information (RTI) Act provides for setting up a practical regime of granting right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities, in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority. The general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the State Information Commission shall vest in the State Chief Information Commissioner who shall be assisted by the State Information Commissioners. The State Information Commission headed by the new Chief Information Comissioner (CIC) has to function autonomously without being subjected to directions by any other authority, the RTI Act says.
Any State CIC should not hold any other office of profit or be connected with any political party or carry on any business or pursue any profession. Talitemjen is to hold office for a term of five years. He is not eligible for reappointment. He also enjoys the status and salary privilege equal to that of the Election Commissioner.
