Manipur SIC defers hearing of RTI appeals and complaints
27 Oct, 2012The State Information Commission (SIC) of Manipur deferred the hearing for all the complaints and appeals filed indefinitely. Following the Supreme Court judgment in the Namit Sharma case, the hearing has been deferred by Manipur SIC. State Information Commissioner Ch Birendra has informed that the SIC now has only one member while the Supreme Court mandates hearing of all the enquiries should be conducted by a two-member bench. After the retirement of RK Angousana on September 12, 2011, the Manipur SIC is working as a single member body and the vacant post is yet to be filled up.
The Manipur SIC has received a total of 48 complaints and six appeals between September 12 and October 24 this year. There has been confusion amongst the different SIC in the country as to whether they should hear appeals in the aftermath of the Apex Court judgment. While some Information Commissions have stopped hearing the appeals /complaints, others are continuing with the hearing. Perhaps, a clarification from Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) would help in setting the doubts at rest.