IMPHAL, May 14: Right to Information activists rallied today for the removal of Ch Birendra , a retired IAS officer holding the post of State Information Commissioner.Briefing media persons at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul, the RTI activists included Rakhesh Meihoubam of Human Rights Law Network, W Joykumar representing Human Rights Initiative among others.Thingujam Sanjit Singh, a resident of Thiyam Leishangkhong, an RTI activist stated that Ch Birendrakumar is incompetent in discharging his duties as a state information commissioner, Sanjit stated that he had submitted an application to the SPIO of the Education department(schools) for some information under the RTI act on September 10, 2010, however the SPIO had not furnish the required information within the time limit of 30 days, mentioning the delaying tactics of Ch Birendra, the appellate further alleged that Birendra has become incompetent and incapable of discharging his duties as information commissioner.Mentioning the statistics, he said that Birendra has only dealt with 40 cases in 2010 whereas the State Chief Information Commissioner has dealt about 220 complaints in the same year, as such several complaints are still pending before him which is against the interest of the RTI appellants.The information commissioner does not entertain the complaints filed under section 18 of the RTI act, despite the provision given by the act to receive and inquire into any complaints of any citizen, he said.Further, Ch Birendra used to remand the said cases to the first appellate authority which is demoralizing to the complainants, he maintained. Mentioning his own complaint, Sanjit alleged that Birendrakumar conducted a hearing without informing him on his complaint stating that the appeal has been disposed as ex parte, but no information had been furnished till date. In the fact of the mentioned circumstances, the RTI activist in the press meet further informed that Ch Birendra is unfit to continue in office anymore and continuation of his service would lead to obstruction and negative impact in the ongoing implementation of the Right to Information Act,2005 in the state. As such , the activists have intimated the governor, Gurbachan Jagat to remove Ch Birendra from office.
