Times of India: New Delhi: Thursday, 11 September 2025.
Odisha Information Commission (OIC) has come under the judicial scanner with Orissa high court taking cognisance of allegations of arbitrary dismissal of RTI cases, misinterpretation of legal provisions and improper handling of appeals. HC on Sept 3 issued notices to OIC and public information officers concerned over three petitions.
Justice V Narasingh, while
hearing all three pleas, found prima facie violations of the RTI Act and posted
the cases for further hearing on Oct 13. The petitioners are being represented
by advocate Akhand.
In the first case, RTI activist Pradeep Pradhan had filed a second appeal in 2021 after being denied information by the Bhubaneswar tehsildar’s office. After a delay of three years, the chief information commissioner (CIC) heard the matter on June 26, merely directing the public information officer to furnish the information without probing the delay or fixing a timeline, the petitioner alleged.
When the information was not provided even after two months, Pradhan approached the HC, which issued notices to both the OIC and tehsildar.
In the second case, Purna Nayak had sought details from the Puri collector’s office in 2021. After being denied information, he filed a complaint before OIC. However, on May 9 this year, the CIC dismissed the complaint without issuing a notice or giving Nayak a hearing. Alleging the dismissal as arbitrary, Nayak moved the HC, which has now issued notice to the commission and the Puri information officer.
The third petition was filed by Babina Jena, who had sought information about loans provided to women by primary cooperative societies in Puri. The public information officer refused to provide the information, stating that cooperative societies do not fall under the RTI Act.
Jena appealed, clarifying that she had sought data from the assistant registrar of cooperative societies (ARCS), Puri, a public authority under RTI Act. However, the information commissioner dismissed the case misinterpreting the law, Jena alleged. HC has now issued notices to both the commission and ARCS.
The petitions apparently indicated growing concerns over the functioning of OIC, with RTI applicants accusing it of procedural lapses and reluctance to hold erring officials accountable.
Odisha Information Commission (OIC) has come under the judicial scanner with Orissa high court taking cognisance of allegations of arbitrary dismissal of RTI cases, misinterpretation of legal provisions and improper handling of appeals. HC on Sept 3 issued notices to OIC and public information officers concerned over three petitions.
In the first case, RTI activist Pradeep Pradhan had filed a second appeal in 2021 after being denied information by the Bhubaneswar tehsildar’s office. After a delay of three years, the chief information commissioner (CIC) heard the matter on June 26, merely directing the public information officer to furnish the information without probing the delay or fixing a timeline, the petitioner alleged.
When the information was not provided even after two months, Pradhan approached the HC, which issued notices to both the OIC and tehsildar.
In the second case, Purna Nayak had sought details from the Puri collector’s office in 2021. After being denied information, he filed a complaint before OIC. However, on May 9 this year, the CIC dismissed the complaint without issuing a notice or giving Nayak a hearing. Alleging the dismissal as arbitrary, Nayak moved the HC, which has now issued notice to the commission and the Puri information officer.
The third petition was filed by Babina Jena, who had sought information about loans provided to women by primary cooperative societies in Puri. The public information officer refused to provide the information, stating that cooperative societies do not fall under the RTI Act.
Jena appealed, clarifying that she had sought data from the assistant registrar of cooperative societies (ARCS), Puri, a public authority under RTI Act. However, the information commissioner dismissed the case misinterpreting the law, Jena alleged. HC has now issued notices to both the commission and ARCS.
The petitions apparently indicated growing concerns over the functioning of OIC, with RTI applicants accusing it of procedural lapses and reluctance to hold erring officials accountable.
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