To: The Honble Governor of Andhra Pradesh Raj Bhawan Raj Bhawan Road HYDERABAD Respected Excellency The

Governor, SUB: APPOINTMENT OF INFORMATION COMMISSIONERS IN THE AP INFORMATION COMMISSION For the past several months, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has been in the process of appointing Information Commissioners in the AP Information Commission. Media reports indicate that the selection committee, as per Section 15(3) of the RTI Act, had recommended certain candidates for appointment and the said file was returned by your Excellency to the state Government. Recent media reports suggest that the AP Government has now sought permission of the Election Commission to go ahead with the appointment of a few commissioners, since the Election Model Code of Conduct being in force. In this connection, RTI Activists and other NGOs have been continuously protesting the absence of any proper procedures in appointing these commissioners as well as the opaque process followed in making such appointments. One such case, pertaining to appointment of Information Commissioners in Tamil Nadu, has now reached the Honble Supreme Court and hearings have started in the matter. During a hearing on 20thApril 2012 related to the above matter, the Honble apex court passed an order, which is attached for your ready reference:

(Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Civil) No(s).9680/2012 C. MANOHARAN Petitioner(s) VERSUS S. VIJAYALAKSHMI & ORS. Respondent(s)) UPON hearing following ORDER counsel the Court made the

Whether selection of appointment of StateInformation Commissioners can be made without adopting atransparent and fair method of selection in which alleligible persons can participate for appointment to suchpost/office can be treated as private affair of aparticular political set up. Issue notice, returnable in the second week of July, 2012. Dasti, in addition, is permitted. Any appointment made hereinafter shall remain subject to final adjudication of the special leave petitions. (Sukhbir Paul Kaur) (PhoolanWati Arora) Court Master Court Master

I request your Excellency to keep in reference the above order of the Supreme Court, since any appointments of Commissioners in Andhra Pradesh will also be subject to the final adjudication of the matter before the court. Appointments made in the interim, are also liable to be challenged in various courts, based on the outcome in the above case. I therefore sincerely urge your Excellency not to make appointments of any Information Commissioners in the AP Information Commission (APIC), till the final adjudication of the above quoted case, before the Honble Supreme Court. Thanking You, Yours Sincerely, <Name> <Address>