* The Governor has kept a list of 12 members of the Legislative Council *
* Anil Galgali’s challenge appeal hearing came to light *
Anil Galgali, an RTI activist, was shocked to learn that the list of 12 people whose names were approved by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s cabinet and sent to the Governor for approval was not available with the RTI. The list was retained by the governor during a hearing on the appeal filed by Anil Galgali at the Raj Bhavan Secretariat on Tuesday, June 15. Now the information will be available only after the governor takes a decision.
Anil Galgali has filed the first appeal against the misleading information and Prachi Jambhekar, who is the Deputy Secretary to the Governor, held a hearing on Tuesday, June 15. During the hearing, Anil Galgali questioned if the list is not available, then who has it. The governor has a complete list with the list and information will be made available once the decision is taken, said Prachi Jambhekar. She further said that as the case is now fair, should information be given or not? Consultations will be held in this regard.
Anil Galgali, an RTI activist, had sought information from the Governor’s Secretariat on April 22, 2021 that the list submitted by the Chief Minister / Chief Minister’s Secretariat to the Governor regarding the appointment of members to the Legislative Council nominated by the Governor should be submitted. Also, the present status of the proposal submitted by the Chief Minister / Chief Minister’s Secretariat to the Governor regarding the appointment of members to the Legislative Council nominated by the Governor should be informed. Replying to Anil Galgali’s application on 19 May 2021, Under Secretary to the Governor’s Secretariat Jayaraj Chaudhary said that the list of Governor-appointed Legislative Council members could not be made available to you as it was not available in the office of the Public Information Officer (Administration). Information came forward at the hearing on appeal