DNA: Mumbai: Tuesday, June 30, 2015.
In what came
as a surprise to an RTI applicant, the public information officer at the state
information commission (SIC) stated that he did not have any information on the
orders of the commission that are challenged in the court.
The
application was filed by Anil Galgali. In his application, Galgali had sought
information on the number of commission orders that are challenged in the
court. The public information officer stated that no such compilation was done
and hence no informaton could be provided.
The applicant
filed a first appeal and during the hearing provided proof of commission giving
him details of orders challenged in the court till 2013.
B Gawade,
secretary of the commission, in his order stated that since it was available
earlier, it should be compiled and given to the activist.
"It's
disappointing to see that the information is not compiled. Obviously, they have
to file petitions in courts. Also, since there is no panel representing SIC,
many times cases tend to have weak defence in the courts. I have written to
chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the chief commission to first upload all
this information on the website, make it public, and also appoint lawyers to
defend the commission's stand," said Galgali.