Thread by @OfficialSauravD

All about yday's hearing before the CIC- apex body responsible to "uphold transparency"

Commissioners at d Central Info Commission r so fearful/subservient to d Modi govt that they dare not pass an order for disclosure of information agnst it, forget Prime Minister's Office.

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I had to say this, out of pain, to the Commissioner during the hearing y'day.

I asked him why Commissioners like him & the Chief Info Commissioner too, r passing factually incorrect orders and noting wrong facts in their orders.

All he had to say is "Mr. Das pls don't...

"... make unnecessary comments". I told Mr. Heeralal Samariya, the IC, that he very well knows what's going on in the Commission.

Such is the anti-people sentiment at this supposedly pro-transparency commission that instead of questioning the Officers from PMO & MHA...

the appellant is being asked hundreds of questions.

I told the IC to focus on seeking answers from the officers sitting before him and know why they haven't submitted their counters, instead of hounding appellants.

I'm revealing all this so that we all know what is going on in an important institution like the CIC. Data is gold. Modi govt's refusal to disclose info and even maintain info, is aided and abetted by CICs who have not passed ONE single pro-disclosure order in past 3 years.

We should focus on appointing ppl who have a good track record of transparency in d CIC. Instead of seekin filling up of vacancies, focus should be on forcing a more transparent & criteria-based selection process. If not, CIC shld remain vacant. We can save our tax money & RTI.