Former Chairperson of the Karnataka Public Service Commission Dr H N Krishna on Wednesday took oath as the Information Commissioner of the state. The Chief Information Commissioner K K Misra administered him the oath of the office at the MS Building on Wednesday.

With the appointment of Dr H N Krishna the state Information Commission got three information commissioners, including the Chief Information Commissioner K K Mishra and Information Commissioner K A Thippeswamy.
Later, talking to media persons, Dr Krishna felt the need to spread awareness on RTI. He also believed that the commission’s services should reach people living in rural areas.

He was optimistic that the disposal of cases would gain more pace with the increased number of commissioners in the Information Commission.

Questioned
Controversy seems to have surrounded the new Information Commissioner whose appointment was questioned by the Surendra Mohan faction of Janata Dal (S).

The president of the faction Ekanthaiah in a press conference challenged Dr Krishna’s appointment saying it was ‘illegal’ because Constitution did not permit the chairperson of any public service commission to get employment in any commission other than the public service commissions.

The party leaders including P G R Sindhia has written to Governor T N Chaturvedi in this regard saying, “The chairperson of a state public service commission after the expiry of his term is eligible only for appointment as the chairperson of any other member of the Union Public Service Commission or as the chairman of any other state public service commission but not for any other employment either under the Government of India or under the government of a state. Therefore, the appointment of Dr H N Krishna as a state information commissioner is illegal and unconstitutional and amounts to subversion of the constitution.”