Appointment of SIC challenged

Kochi: The Kerala High Court was on Friday approached seeking to quash the appointment of Sony Thengamam as State Information Commissioner (SIC).

The petition challenging the appointment was filed by D.B. Binu, High Court lawyer and general secretary of the RTI Kerala Federation.

The petitioner pointed out that Mr. Sony was the assistant secretary of the Kollam district committee of the Communist Party of India (CPI). He had been involved in activities of the CPI in various capacities for long.

The petitioner said the Right to Information Act disqualified MPs or MLAs or a person who holds any other office of profit or connected with any political party or engaged in any business or any profession, from being appointed as State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner.

Mr. Sony, being a political activist, could not have considered for appointment to the post of State Information Commissioner. Besides, he did not have the qualification as prescribed by the Act. As per Section 15(5) of the Act, a person of eminence in public life with knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and government should alone be appointed as State Chief Information Commissioner or State Information Commissioners.