Economic Times: Mumbai: Tuesday, June 30, 2015.
Maharashtra
State Information Commission (SIC) does not have information on its own orders
that were challenged in courts, an RTI query revealed.
The RTI was
filed by city-based activist Anil Galgali seeking details of the orders it had
passed that were challenged in courts.
However, desk
officer and Public Information Officer of the Commission M Kamble informed Galgali
recently that no compiled information was available with the office in this
regard.
The
Commission also informed him that no special lawyers were appointed to
represent it in the court.
Based on the
reply, Galgali filed an appeal following which the Appellate Authority B B
Gavade issued instructions to the Commission asking it to provide updated
information within the next 15 days.
Talking to
PTI, Galgali said keeping records of the orders that were challenged in courts
is mandatory for the Information Commission but it was shocking to know that it
does not have such a data.
"It's
extremely disappointing and seems intentional on the Commission's part that it
does not keep records of its own orders," he said.
The activist
said he has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis and the State
Information CommissionerRatnakar Gaikwad in this regard.
"I have
sought the CM's direction to the Commission to upload all this information on
the website and also appoint lawyers to defend their challenged cases," he
added.