-The Times of India
MUMBAI: RTI activists have decided to file a PIL against the state government on the process of selecting the state chief information commissioner. The move follows the appointment of Ratnakar Gaikwad as the state chief information commissioner (SCIC) and activists feel that the state government needs to rethink its decision of having him at the helm of affairs.
Gaikwad, who met RTI activists on Monday at his office, tried to calm frayed nerves; he told them that he never imagined that he would be appointed as the SCIC and that post-retirement, he had plans to join a private firm. When the activists raised the sticky issue of his role in issuing the occupation certificate for Adarsh, Gaikwad said that the final inquiry would make things clear and that he didn’t want to elaborate on the issue. But he said that the navy had not stopped the MMRDA from issuing the OC.
However, most activists like Anil Galgali, Krishnaraj Rao, G R Vora felt that Gaikwad, who had given them an audience, was rather evasive in his responses.