State Main Information Commissioner R. Mahaboob Basha. | Photo Credit: File Photos
In a strongly formulated administrative order of 9 May 2025, the State Commissioner for Information (SCIC) R. Mahaboob Basha limited V. Anjaneyulu, IRTS, from operation as a secretary (complete additional fee) Information Commission Andhra Pradesh (APIC), with serious procedure violations.
The smell of Basha, who performed friction between the state government and the apic, claimed that the appointment of the main secretary K. Vijayanand “without consultation with Apic” contradicts the right to information from 2005 and Mrs. No. 122 of September 6, 2017.
He stressed that, according to section 16 (6) of the RTI Act, the state government was obliged to provide SCIC officers and employees and state information commissioners to ensure effective functioning and to protect the independence and autonomy of the Commission.
“This is the first time in the history of Apic that the Office of the Chief Secretary of the Government, the Ministry of the General Administration (GAD), has launched the process of appointment for the post of secretary without consulting APIC,” Basha said in the command.
“APIC has always accepted its employees through SCIC, with the subsequent approval of the government,” he said.
Scic mentioned that GAD ordered the head of the department to independently nominate the candidates for post, which is a step that he described as “violations of long -term conventions and administrative standards”.
Mr. Basha said that although the office was “shocked” by development, he initially abstained the objections in the hope that GAD would adhere to the earlier practice of consulting the commission.
He criticized the appointment of Mr. Anjaneyulu, who already works as a director, insurance medical services, with a clear violation of GO of 2017, which stipulated that the secretary of APIC should be appointed only for representation or contract.
“GO does not cause the government to assign complete fees to the officer that has already served elsewhere for representation,” Basha said.
He also said that Mr. Anjaneyulu visited the apic office and claimed to be accused as a secretary. However, after being recommended to submit a formal connection message and wait for permission from SCIC, he left without completing the process. SCIC further claimed that Mr. Anjaneyulu had ever entered the Commission’s premises unauthorized, replicated employees and issued directives in violation of the protocol.
“The officer cannot function independently as Apic Secretary without Scic’s consent,” Basha said. “APIC cannot blindly afford to any officer deployed to take over the accusations if he is not satisfied with his suitability to serve in an autonomous and quasi-Sound institution,” he added.
Basha raised Section 15 (4) of the RTI Act and emphasized the responsibility for the limitation of any measures undermined by the authority and dignity of the SCIC office.
He also proposed the state government to refrain from representatives of officers who said, “You do not know how to follow the autonomous and independent quasi-sensible powers such as apic.”
The government has not yet responded to the development. Meanwhile, officials at various levels in the government noted that Scic could not deny the appointment of officers, because the government was to provide the mandate to employees of the office.
Published – May 10, 2025 20:32
