IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.5425 of 2009 VIKASH CHANDRA GUDDU BABA, Son of Late Ramashraya Prasad Singh, presently residing at Kurjee Balupar, P.O. - Sadaquat Ashram, Police Station- Digha, District- Patna. … Petitioner Versus 1. THE STATE OF BIHAR through its Chief Secretary 2. The Recommendation Committee through the Chief Secretary, Bihar, Old Secretariat, Patna. 3. The Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar, Old Secretariat, Patna. 4. The Principal Secretary, Department of Personnel & Administration, Government of Bihar, Patna. 5. The Secretary, State Information Commission, Bihar, Suchana Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna. 6. Dr. J. N. Bhatt, son of Sri N. N. Bhatt, Retd. Chief Justice, Patna High Court, 18, Raj Mukund Society, Narayanpura, Char Rasta, Ahmadabad, Pin Code-380013 (Gujarat) … Respondents ----------- For the petitioner: Vikash Chandra Guddu Baba (In person) For the State : Advocate General ----------- 9/ 07.09.2009 Heard the petitioner in person and the Advocate General for the respondents. The petitioner in this public interest litigation has raised the grievance to the effect that the post of State Chief Information Commissioner has remained vacant for about ten months, as a result of which, such office has become non-functional. The Advocate General on instructions has stated that even though the State Government has appointed Hon’ble Dr. J. N. Bhatt (retired Chief Justice of the Patna High Court) to function as the State Chief Information Commissioner, but due to certain personal difficulties Hon’ble Dr. J. N. Bhatt is not in a position to join the office. In view of this, the writ petition is disposed of with the - 2 - observation that now the State Government is free to make any alternative arrangement as expeditiously as possible. It is expected that the State Government would make the office of the State Chief Information Commissioner functional as expeditiously as possible. The writ petition is, accordingly, disposed of. JA/- (P. K. Misra, CJ.) (Anjana Prakash, J.)