Why is the consumer redressal commission not publishing judgments?
8 Jul, 2013
An application was filed with the Andhra Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (APSCDRC) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking to know as to why the commission was not publishing and updating judgments and case status on the web. The application also sought to know the number of cases that have been going on for more than a year and whether the commission was following certain procedures for mentioning reasons for adjournments.
Initial reply from the commission stated that the queries demanded the opinion of the PIO and not facts. However, upon persistence by the applicant, the commission responded to all, but one question, contending that judgments and case status pertained to judiciary and were beyond the domain of the PIO.
The dissatisfied applicant then approached the Andhra Pradesh State Information Commission (SIC) which didn't agree with the view of the PIO that he can supply only material held in the form and not to do research stating that the sought information didn't ask him to do research; it was merely related to updation of data on the website. The SIC held that "The information sought by the appellant is not to do research but to post information in public domain to ensure transparency."
The state information commission held that a public authority must keep information in public domain on regular intervals and directed the commission to furnish the requested information.