Times of India: Mumbai: Thursday,
30 July 2020.
The
Bombay high court on Tuesday sought BMC’s response on why online hearing is not
provided to persons filing appeals under the Right to Information Act.
A bench
of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sarang Kotwal heard a public
interest litigation by advocate Mayur Faria who said BMC has no option for
online hearing of RTI appeals during the Covid-19 pandemic. He cited an
instance of how, with regard to a first appeal, the executive engineer of ward
A was insisting that his client remain physically present for the hearing. “It’s
very inconvenient for the public at large to travel,” said Faria.
Asked if
he had approached the municipal commissioner with his grievance that the
executive engineer is asking for physical presence at the hearing, Faria
replied that he hadn’t. He said he informed the executive engineer of his
client’s inability to remain physically present.
“If
there are no [online] facilities, the corporation must find out what is the
problem. Why video-conference cannot be provided?” the chief justice asked.
Faria also said that the BMC is not accepting fresh RTI applications.
The
judges, in their order, noted that they could dispose of the PIL without
calling for replies on Friday, but subject to consideration of BMC’s version.
They directed Faria to serve another notice on the executive engineer “as well
as municipal commissioner that we desire representation from their side on the
next date” of hearing.
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