Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Why are RTI bodies manned by bureaucrats?' that was published in Newsband

Why are RTI bodies manned by bureaucrats?

The Supreme Court asked why Right to Information bodies were almost completely manned by bureaucrats. SC pointed out that the Right to Information Act of 2005 mandates that people with a range of experience and from various fields should serve as information commissioners.

When it comes to executives or legislatures or even subordinate judiciary, the apex court has got a good and decisive definite say in matters beyond its rationality and reasonableness. Is RTI just a farce? Does it serve the common man?

SC is right. Everything is not reserved for bureaucrats, common people have also the right to appoint persons they want. The bureaucrats are preferred by the authorities because only the bureaucratic commissioner bows down to the ruling Government who may be in power. Professional usually does not.

It is a happy augury that the Supreme Court is at last waking up to the reality of government handling of such venerable institutions. Retired bureaucrats are ripe for such 'benefits' since 1. They have knowledge of confusing procedures to thwart release of facts, 2. Such appointments are actually 'carrots' held out to them during their service for 'good' and 'apt' behaviour suiting their bosses. In any event what with the retirement age being fixed at 60 or even worse 58, they are all in good health and capable of output for another 5/10 years. Finally this bureaucracy is almost a fraternity or a brotherhood (a mafia?) with each and everyone reaching out to others and hence appointments made by the ones in service will always be for the retired ones who will cozy up. After all appointing outsiders though knowledgeable may not suit the government bureaucracy.

Right to information act was brought by the then Congress with a view to provide basic info and data on various Schemes of the Govts for helping and serving the public cause. However, in recent past this act is stumped out, SC is right in its observations about the functioning of RTI in the country.

Should there not be transparency and experts from various fields with legal background in judiciary too? We see favouritism and activism there too resulting in brushing aside crores of people's rights but upholding minorities and individuals rights to insult desecrate others faith and rights.

Information commissions across the country are there, but political interests block the good candidates and experts. The very reason why India suffers in all areas is because there are no independent experienced officers in any areas.

Hope there is follow-up news on the RTI appointees. Government is like brain, heart, nerves, spinal chord, bones, muscles and skin of the human body. Skin is the politiician. Heart is constituition. Brain is the government official. Nerves is connecting the heart and brain. RTI is the spinal chord that makes the country to rise and shine. Hope it can rise and shine.