Maharashtra, dial 1585 and demand Transparent Selection of Chief SIC & other SICs

Today, I used my landline to cast a vote against closed-door selection of the next Chief State Information Commissioner (which is scheduled to happen on tomorrow, 6 October). I made a brief phone-call. Within a couple of hours, a telegram will reach the top four decision-makers of RTI.

MESSAGE NO. 1
“Sir, open selection of State Information Commissioner and Chief is a must. Selecting only bureaucrats and insiders is unfair. Please publish criteria used for selection and short-listing. Also publish grounds for rejection of candidates. Advertize to invite candidates from civil society. Put on website biodatas of all candidates and also names of those who nominated.”

ADDRESSED TO:

• Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mantralaya, 6th Floor, Madame Cama Road, Mumbai 32
• Principal Secretary, General Admin. Department, New Administrative Bldg.,
• Opp. Mantralaya, Mumbai - 32
• Governor of Maharashtra, Raj Bhavan, Malabar Hill, Walkeshwar Road, Mumbai

MESSAGE NO. 2
“Sir, please be a strong opposition and not just rubber stamp. Oppose unfair selection of Information Commissioners. Boycott Selection Committee meeting until Government is honest and transparent.  Ask them to put on website criteria used for selection and short-listing, and also grounds for rejection of candidates.”

ADDRESSED TO:

• Eknath Khadse, Maharashtra Leader of Opposition, BJP Office, Near Mantralaya, Mumbai – 32

COST OF MESSAGE:
Cost of Message no. 1 was Rs. 149. Cost of message no 2 was Rs. 80. This cost will be added to my telephone bill as a separate item. This was the cost of raising my voice on this important matter from the comfort of my home in 15 minutes.

May I humbly urge you to also send this message? SEND THIS PHONOGRAM URGENTLY, BEFORE THEY ANNOUNCE THE NAME OF DR SURESH JOSHI’S SUCCESSOR. It is already quite late; we should have done this last week. But let us at least do it now.
 
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS:

i)    Dial 1585 for booking phonogram from landline in any city.

ii)    The telephone operator will take down your landline number. He will then call you back within a few minutes.

iii)    Dictate the addresses. Specify that you want one message sent, copy to all. (This usually minimizes the cost.)

iv)    Dictate message.

v)    Dictate your name (Sender’s name), and take down your ticket number for later enquiry and confirmation of delivery.

vi)    Ask for POD Copy to be posted to you (Extra cost is 80 paise.)

vii)    IMPORTANT: PLEASE EMAIL ME YOUR TICKET NUMBERS. (My ticket numbers are PU 2 & 3.) This will enable us to verify delivery and action taken on all of your phonograms.
 
Send telegram first, and follow up with postcards, letters or emails. Each has its own psychological impact. Unlike emails, telegrams and letters are recorded in the Inward Register of each office, and laid on the desks of the concerned people.
 
Let our messages start piling up on their desks and filling up their files. Let the government know that there is strong public opinion against political appointment of Information Commissioners through favouritism, recommendations and closed-door meetings.
 
Warm Regards,
Krish
98215 88114