Rajasthan HC asks state government to appoint information commissioners
14 Jul, 2014
Hearing a petition filed by Dinesh Bothra, the division bench of the Rajasthan High Court comprising Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice Banwari Lal Sharma ordered the Rajasthan state government to fill up all the vacant positions of the information commissioners in the State Information Commission (SIC) by August 14.
In the petition, it was submitted that the SIC is is working with only one one Chief Information Commissioner while the RTI Act, 2005 mandates appointment of upto ten information commissioners. It has led to piling of appeals and complaints at the level of SIC. The Additional Advocate General informed the High court that the process for appointment of the information commissioners has been initiated with the receipt of 119 applications, which are being screened by a committee comprising the chief minister, the leader of opposition and a cabinet minister which is likely to be completed by July 24.
The High Court directed the state government to complete the process and ensure appointment of information commissioners by August 14. The court further directed the state government to make the functioning of the commission effective for the citizens.