Times of India: Gandhinagar: Wednesday, 06 September 2023.
The use of electronic devices during redress of RTI grievances and open hearings will now resume at the Gujarat Information Commission (GIC). Another significant change announced is the removal of the word limit for those making second appeals.
The use of devices has been allowed under “certain conditions” during hearings for second appeals and complaints, said an official release from the GIC. Similarly, forms for the second appeal have been updated, the statement said. The GIC issued these fresh guidelines to all government departments for smoother administrative functioning, the official statement said on Tuesday.
The decision was taken after a PIL was filed on August 3, by RTI Ekta Manch in the Gujarat high court, alleging that the GIC does not conduct open hearings on RTI appeals and complaints, despite having courtrooms. The PIL also said that the commission has short sessions, issues notices only by email but does not allow the use of electronic devices by litigants and lawyers.
The HC bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice J C Doshi asked the RTI activists to take their grievances to the chief information commissioner (CIC), who was directed to pass a reasoned order on the matter. The HC also allowed the activists’ representatives to attend the hearing. The PIL said the commission’s practices violated the Supreme Court’s order of March 2022 lifting Covid-19 restrictions in judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings. The PIL also complained that only the litigant and his lawyer were allowed to enter the commissioner’s chambers during hearings.
The use of electronic devices during redress of RTI grievances and open hearings will now resume at the Gujarat Information Commission (GIC). Another significant change announced is the removal of the word limit for those making second appeals.
The use of devices has been allowed under “certain conditions” during hearings for second appeals and complaints, said an official release from the GIC. Similarly, forms for the second appeal have been updated, the statement said. The GIC issued these fresh guidelines to all government departments for smoother administrative functioning, the official statement said on Tuesday.
The decision was taken after a PIL was filed on August 3, by RTI Ekta Manch in the Gujarat high court, alleging that the GIC does not conduct open hearings on RTI appeals and complaints, despite having courtrooms. The PIL also said that the commission has short sessions, issues notices only by email but does not allow the use of electronic devices by litigants and lawyers.
The HC bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice J C Doshi asked the RTI activists to take their grievances to the chief information commissioner (CIC), who was directed to pass a reasoned order on the matter. The HC also allowed the activists’ representatives to attend the hearing. The PIL said the commission’s practices violated the Supreme Court’s order of March 2022 lifting Covid-19 restrictions in judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings. The PIL also complained that only the litigant and his lawyer were allowed to enter the commissioner’s chambers during hearings.
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