Strongly denouncing the appointment of former LDA Project Director Th Ibobi Singh (retired IFS) who allegedly involved in multi crore Scam in the state as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of Manipur Information Commission, Human Rights Initiative, HRI has urged the Governor KK Paul to intervene the appointment of the retired IFS officer as new CIC and advise the Manipur Chief Minister to appoint other retired officers having no records of corruption.
HRI has submitted a representation to the Governor in this regard on February 9.
The representation signed by Progra-mme Coordinator of HRI S.Sanatampha submitted to the Governor’s Secreta-riat on February 9 last mentioned that Th Ibobi was the Project Director of Loktak Development Authority (LDA) who allegedly involved in the scam of multi-crore Phumdi cleaning project in Loktak Lake with a Delhi-based K-Pro Infra Works Private Limited.
In the representation, HRI contended that the appointment of Th Ibobi as the Chief Information Commissioner is highly objectionable as his integrity is doubtful and he has allegedly connived with the present Chief Minister of Manipur in the Loktak scam. It may be mentioned that retired IFS Officer Th Ibobi had miserably failed to discharge his bounden duties under RTI Act as a First Appellate Authority when he was member secretary of Manipur Pollution Control Board. All the information relating to corruption, misuse of fund, malpractices, deprivation of entitlements and other important documents pertaining to the present Government may not be disclosed if Th Ibobi Singh, retired IFS is appointed as Chief Information Commisssioner at the behest of the present Chief Minister or other pretext.
Reiterating that there are many retired IAS/IPS officers who are more competent and having no records of corruption and unblemished career, who may be considered for the post instead of the corrupted IFS officer Th Ibobi, HRI maintained that the practical regime of transperancy may be mockery and the spirit and principles of RTI Act 2005 may be seriously affected when Th Ibobi who allegedly involved in the biggest scam of the state id appointed as new CIC.
HRI added that tenure of the State Chief Information Commissioner expired on September 2011. The Manipur Information Commission has stopped functioning since September 2011 as a consequence of Supreme Court Judgment in Namit Sharma versus Union of India and there is neither CIC or SIC in Manipur Information Commission since March 31st, 2013. Manipur High Court, on May 29, 2013, passed an order to appoint CIC and SIC based on the PIL filed by High Court of Manipur Bar association. But the Government failed to comply with the Court order and a contempt of Court was filed against the Government in this regard.
