In Karnataka, 184 individuals, including retired IAS and IPS officers, district judges, and a former KPSC member, have applied for the roles of Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioner. These positions hold significant authority under the Right to Information Act (RTI) to make decisions on information requests.
Crisis in the Karnataka Information Commission
The Karnataka Information Commission (KIC), which serves as the ultimate authority for RTI applicants seeking information, is currently facing a crisis due to six vacant commissioner posts, including the Chief Information Commissioner, which has been unfilled for the past two months.
On June 11, the state government invited applications for the positions of CIC and Information Commissioner. Eligible candidates were required to submit their applications to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) by July 15.
Retired Officials Among Applicants
According to the KIC, over 35 applicants are retired officials, ranging from a retired chief engineer from the Public Works Department to former IAS officers and judges.
Notable applicants include retired IAS officers H R Mahadev, Mamata B R, and Richard Vincent D’Souza; retired IPS officers Kamal Pant (former Bengaluru police commissioner), Sunil Agarwal, Ashit Mohan Prasad, and S N Siddaramappa; as well as at least five retired district judges and several former government secretariat officials.
Controversial Application for CIC Post
H C Sathyan, a former transport department employee who was appointed Information Commissioner in 2022 despite a pending disproportionate assets case, has also applied for the CIC post. The case, filed by Lokayukta, is currently ongoing in the Mysuru District and Sessions Court. The Karnataka High Court issued a notice last year to the state government regarding Sathyan’s appointment despite the unresolved case.
Concerns Over Transparency
J M Rajashekhar, an RTI activist from Haveri, expressed concerns about the government’s handling of the RTI Act. “It is unfortunate that the government entertains applications from retired officers who have lived on taxpayers’ money their entire lives. There is a dire need to strengthen the KIC in the interest of transparency in governance. We urge the government to set aside political affiliations while making the selection,” he stated.
