Name CIC in 2 months, says Bombay HC

Mumbai: Observing that the huge pendency of appeals before the State Information Commission (SIC) will defeat the very purpose of setting up of machinery provided under the Right to Information Act, the Bombay high court has directed the state to fill the vacant post of the Chief Information Commissioner within two months. The court has also directed the Additional Solicitor General of India to remain present in court on the next date of hearing and assist the court. The court was hearing a PIL seeking directions for the government to take steps to reduce pendency of RTI applications by filling vacant posts of Information Commissioners.

The division bench of Justice A.S. Oka Justice A.K. Menon observed that the chart provided by the government pleader showed that in the year 2015 there were 39,603 appeals that preferred before the SIC and pendency of appeals at the end of 2015 was 28,465. Another chart showed that the post of Chief Information Commissioner of the state is vacant. The bench noted that the documents submitted by the State does not say it will take immediate steps for filling in vacant post. “This exercise shall be completed at the earliest and not later than two months.”

“There is huge pendency of appeals before the State Commission. If such pendency continues, the very object of setting up machinery provided under the RTI Act will be frustrated,” observed the bench.

The petitioner also sought that appropriate infrastructure to the judicial officers should be provided and strength of the judges should be increased.