The selection committee to appoint the state information commission in J&K is scheduled to meet on Thursday.

According to a news report in Great Kashmir, two bureaucrats and a police officer are vying to be appointed to the commission, which is yet to be constituted.

“The persons who would form the first SIC would leave an imprint on the institution itself. They have to be visionaries so that leave behind a strong institution. It should not be taken as a vacant position which should be filled by someone to enjoy government perks. This would defeat the very essence of the RTI Act,” the daily quoted Venkatesh Nayak of commonwealth human rights initiative, as saying.

State officials believe, according to the news report, that the members of the commission should be from the valley, but not retired bureaucrats.

“If you recall, I had written a letter to CM that there are certain names doing rounds in the media with regard to SIC. I had asked him that it should not be something pre-conceived. The Chief Minister responded and said that there was nothing like that. I hope we go there with an open mind and contribute positively,” PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti told the daily.