List sent for post of information chief outdated: Data

The list of applicants that the state government's General Administration Department (GAD) has been sending for the posts of state chief information commissioner (SCIC) and information commissioners (IC) is grossly outdated and even has applications from as far back as 2005, data accessed under the transparency law has revealed.

The list of applicants that the state government's General Administration Department (GAD) has been sending for the posts of state chief information commissioner (SCIC) and information commissioners (IC) is grossly outdated and even has applications from as far back as 2005, data accessed under the transparency law has revealed.

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The list of 83 aspirants for the top posts include Umesh C Sarangi, current additional chief secretary (home) who will retire on February 29; Ramanand Tiwari who was suspended as state information commissioner for his alleged involvement in the Adarsh scam; former information commissioner Vijay Kuvalekar and others who cannot serve as IC as they are above 65 years of age.

The department seems to have simply added new applications to the list and put it up before the state committee comprising the chief minister, deputy chief minister and opposition leader. Nandkumar Jantare, former secretary, GAD, who retired on January 31, said, "Relevant information is added to the list and sent to the committee. There is no scrutiny as these are constitutional posts."