Times of India: Bhopal: Monday, 29 April 2024.
A division bench of MP high court has sought response from the state government over appointments in the State Information Commission while fixing the hearing in a public interest litigation seeking court directive for early appointments of members in the commission and the chief information commissioner 4 weeks later.
President of Law Students' Association Vishal Baghel in his petition said that there are 10 posts of members in the State Information Commission including the chief information commissioner. In September 2023, only 3 posts were filled and they, too, fell vacant in March, 2024.
The petitioner said that second appeals in the cases under Right to Information Act must be disposed of within 180 days. In the absence of members in the commission, more than 10,000 appeals are pending before the commission. The commission is in fact defunct ever since the retirement of information commissioners in March 2024.
The court was apprised on behalf of the state government that posts of the information commissioners have been advertised. In all, 185 applications have been received and further action is being taken to appoint the members.
The division bench of chief justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Vishal Mishra gave 4-week time to the state government to file a reply in the matter while deferring hearing of the petition.
A division bench of MP high court has sought response from the state government over appointments in the State Information Commission while fixing the hearing in a public interest litigation seeking court directive for early appointments of members in the commission and the chief information commissioner 4 weeks later.
President of Law Students' Association Vishal Baghel in his petition said that there are 10 posts of members in the State Information Commission including the chief information commissioner. In September 2023, only 3 posts were filled and they, too, fell vacant in March, 2024.
The petitioner said that second appeals in the cases under Right to Information Act must be disposed of within 180 days. In the absence of members in the commission, more than 10,000 appeals are pending before the commission. The commission is in fact defunct ever since the retirement of information commissioners in March 2024.
The court was apprised on behalf of the state government that posts of the information commissioners have been advertised. In all, 185 applications have been received and further action is being taken to appoint the members.
The division bench of chief justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Vishal Mishra gave 4-week time to the state government to file a reply in the matter while deferring hearing of the petition.
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