Cases still pending with APIC, claim RTI activists

TNN, Mar 1, 2011,

HYDERABAD: Right to Information activists have filed a petition with the state information commission to find out the total number of cases still pending with it. Activists note that former state information commissioners of Andhra Pradesh Information Commission (APIC) K Sudhakara Rao and R Dileep Reddy allegedly did not pass orders and clear the files towards the end of their five-year old term at the commission.

While the commission has posted the hearing of the case to next week, activists note that some of the pending cases were crucial as they pertained to important government departments. While activists allege that it was an attempt to withhold information, APIC officials claimed the two commissioners were burdened with many petitions and therefore were unable to dispose of the cases.

"In the last six months of their term, neither Rao nor Reddy passed a single order. The duo finished their term in November and now the cases need to be heard by the lone commissioner there, chief information commissioner Jannat Hussain," said an RTI activist.

According to the activists, the former information commissioners could not be asked to explain their stand as the RTI Act has not stipulated a time period for commissioners to pass orders.