Pol parties not appointing PIOs unconstitutional:RTI activists

RTI activists here today accused political parties of acting against the spirit of the Constitution by not appointing public information officers as per the order of the Central Information Commission.
One of the activists, Nikil Dey, said they will take the issue among masses and would also keep a strict watch on election expenditures of parties in the coming assembly elections in the state.
"If the CIC order was not legally sound, why they (political parties) did not appeal in court? Would it not set a bad precedent for other institutions?" Nikil asked.
The activists under the aegis of National Campaign for People's Right to Information sent letters to six political parties, which were declared as public authorities by CIC in June and thereby falling under the ambit of the RTI Act.

The NCPRI, in its letter signed by social activist Aruna Roy among several others, has asked the parties to participate in discussion with the people on the issue on any forum of their choice.
"If political parties believe in transparency, they should be ready to discuss this issue with the people. There should be a public dialogue on the issue," Nikhil told reporters here.
He said NCPRI would keep a strict watch on expenditures of parties during the state assembly elections due later this year and will highlight it among masses.