Nagaland | RTI on illegal appointments in Rank of cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State denied
| Jun 8, 2018, 16:57 IST
TNT News | Kohima | June 8, 2018
Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) had a meeting of an executive council today at Dimapur where the executive council decided to approach the Central Information Commission (CIC) New Delhi, without any loss of time for denial of information by the State Government on the facilities provided to the Non- Legislators recently appointed in the Rank of cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State also seeking to know under which provision of Law the appointments were made.
NPRAAF President had filed an RTI on 7th May 2018, in the Chief Secretary Office seeking information under RTI Act of 2005 affixing requisite stamp seeking information on the facilities provided to the 13 (thirteen) Non-Legislators appointed in the rank of Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of state so as to know if the facilities provided to the 13 (thirteen) PDA members falls within the purview of sec 21 IPC and whether the appointment outwitted Article 164 (1A) which was inserted in the constitution on the recommendation on National commission for review of working of constitution headed by former chief justice of India, M.N Venkatachaliah on misuse and drainage of public money to put a ban on over-sized cabinet.
NPRAAF were informed by PIO Chief Secretary Office that, the RTI application was forwarded to Cabinet Secretariat on 8th May 2018, however no information was received from both ends, "after enactment of RTI Act, 2005 Right to information is no more a constitutional right. Now, RTI is only a statuary legal right. before the enactment of RTI Act, 2005, RTI was part of Article 19(1) (a) of constitution of India (freedom of speech and expression), which is Fundamental Right" therefore denial of information is denial of fundamental right which is liable under the law.
NPRAAF demanded that the state Govt. furnish the said information to initiate any legal course of action for the illegal appointments in accordance to the RTI response. However the same is denied to this day. Meanwhile, NPRAAF also informed, the Dept of Land Resource, PHE and Rural Development Department not to further delay the information NPRAAF sought for, on 7th May 2018 as the mandatory period of 1(one) month for RTI reply has ended on 7th June. Failing to furnish the information the matter will be taken up to CIC Delhi.
NPRAAF decision to bypass first Appellate Authority and State information Commission (SIC) Office is because, NPRAAF has no confidence in it. NPRAAF had approached State Information Commission (SIC) on 24th May 2016 after the Home Department denied information on High Power Committee (HPC) report headed by Justice H.K Sema, Supreme Court Judge (Rtd) however to this day information is denied on various pretext of law. therefore NPRAAF decided not to approach SIC anymore on denial of information but approach the CIC Delhi as authorized in the section 18 (1) (b), (c) under the provision of RTI Act 2005.
