KRS slams state government for delaying appointments to Karnataka Information Commission vacancies
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Rashtra Samithi (KRS) has slammed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for delaying the appointment of commissioners to the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC), arguing that the move undermines the effectiveness of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
In a letter, as cited by Deccan Herald on Monday, the KRS expressed concerns over the government’s inaction. They argued that the failure to fill these vacancies has disrupted the functioning of the KIC.
The KRS also pointed out that several government departments and agencies are refusing to provide information to the public, worsening the issue.
"The Supreme Court, during a hearing on January 7, raised serious objections to the delay and sought a report from the chief secretary. Despite this, the government has not taken steps to make the appointments,” Manjunath S. of the KRS was quoted as saying by DH.
Manjunath slammed the government for favouring candidates with bureaucratic backgrounds for these positions. He mentioned that out of the 11 commissioner posts, eight have been vacant for a long time, and the terms of the remaining three commissioners will end on April 18.
The KRS further highlighted the poor state of the RTI system in Karnataka. Manjunath claimed that many information officers and first appellate authorities lack knowledge of the RTI Act and often mislead applicants. “At the KIC, more than 50,000 complaints are pending, and applicants are forced to wait six months to a year just to have their applications heard. In some cases, it takes two to three years to obtain the requested information,” he said.
The Karnataka Rashtra Samithi called on the government to appoint qualified individuals who understand the RTI Act, requesting for urgent action to restore the KIC's effectiveness and ensure transparency in governance.
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Congress using hijab issue to pacify minority anger, alleges Karnataka LoP R Ashoka
Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of using the hijab issue to placate what he described as discontent among minority voters after the Davanagere by-election.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Ashoka alleged that the state government, instead of addressing issues such as price rise, corruption, farmers’ distress and law and order, was attempting to retain its minority vote base by reviving the hijab issue.
Referring to the 2022 dress code introduced by the BJP government, which prohibited hijab in schools and colleges, Ashoka said the Karnataka High Court had upheld the policy and emphasised the importance of discipline in educational institutions.
He questioned the Congress government’s move to revisit the issue and asked whether setting aside the court-backed policy to benefit one community could be described as secularism.
Ashoka further alleged that while the government was willing to permit hijab, it continued to prohibit saffron shawls.
He accused the government of dividing students on religious lines rather than treating schools and colleges as spaces of equality.
Drawing a comparison with Mamata Banerjee’s government in West Bengal, Ashoka claimed that excessive appeasement politics had harmed the state and warned that the Congress in Karnataka could face a similar political response.
He said voters in Karnataka would teach the Congress a lesson for what he termed “vote-bank politics” and for compromising constitutional and judicial principles.
