CIC SAYS ‘NO’ TO DETAILS OF LOKPAL MEETING

NEWDELHI: The CIC has refused to allow disclosure of minutes of selection committee meetings to choose the chairperson and members of anti-graft body Lokpal.

Over 2 years since an application seeking records pertaining to the selection of the nation’s Lokpal and other members was filed, the Central Information Commission (CIC) rejected it citing 2 Supreme Court judgments on contempt petitions over the non-appointment of Lokpal even after the SC’s directives and transparency in the appointment of information commissioners.

"The commission is of the considered view in the instant matter, the CPIO upheld the interest of transparency by informing the appellant about all the details of the selection committee and its meetings, hence the question of lack of transparency does not hold ground. Moreover, having taken cognizance of the averred dictum of the apex court, the commission does not find it appropriate to intervene in the decision of the CPIO," Information Commissioner Sarioj Punhani said.

Transparency and anti-corruption activist Anjali Bhardwaj had filed the RTI application in November 2018 with the DoPT, seeking records about the selection process of the chairperson and members of the Lokpal.