Latest news with #StateInformationCommission
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
HC denies relief on plea to set time limit for information commissions
Madurai: Madras high court has denied relief to a man who sought a directive for the Central Information Commission, New Delhi, and the State Information Commission, Chennai, to dispose of appeals filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by setting a time limit. The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed in 2020 by M Selvakumar. In addition to seeking a time limit, the petitioner requested an increase in the number of commissioners in both commissions. He further sought the establishment of a branch of the State Information Commission in Madurai for public convenience. A division bench of justice S M Subramaniam and justice A D Maria Clete observed that the relief sought to direct the commissions, to dispose of appeals by setting a time limit could not be granted. The commissions are created statutorily, and the workload is to be regulated by the commission itself. The high court, in exercising its powers of judicial review, cannot direct the commission to dispose of appeals by setting a time limit, as it is impractical and would result in a futile exercise. The cases, which are to be decided on a priority basis or by seniority, are to be regulated by the commission. If any specific grievance exists, the petitioner is at liberty to approach the commission for the speedy disposal of the case, the judges observed, and disposed of the petition.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Food Safety department directed to appoint senior-level staff as State Public Information Officers
The State Information Commission has directed the Food Safety department to replace staff currently serving as State Public Information Officers in its offices with senior level officers. The Commission noted that the department has appointed clerical staff as State Public Information Officers in most of its offices. State Information Commissioner A. Abdul Hakkim has directed the Food Safety Commissioner to issue orders by August 31 appointing the second highest-ranking officer in offices under the department as the State Public Information Officer and the head of the office concerned as the First Appellate Authority.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
MP HC issues notices over denial of RTI info to JMC employee despite order
Bhopal/Jabalpur: The MP High Court issued notices to a state information commissioner, the Commissioner of Jabalpur municipal corporation (JMC), and the chief information officer of JMC. This was in response to a petition by an employee of the JMC, who was not given the information he desired under the RTI Act, despite an order from the MP high court. The petitioner, Shivmohan Dwivedi, stated that he works with the JMC as an assistant. He was charged with furnishing incorrect information about posts available in the JMC, leading to an appointment on compassionate grounds based on the wrong information received from him. A charge sheet was issued to him in April 2016. The investigation officer was changed three times. When he sought a copy of the inquiry report under RTI, he was refused the information. On November 18, 2024, the MP High Court asked the JMC to furnish him with the desired information within 30 days. Subsequently, the State Information Commission also asked the JMC to provide the information sought under RTI and warned of imposing costs otherwise. When the order was not complied with, a probe against the concerned JMC officials was also ordered. The officers concerned replied that the report was with the JMC Commissioner and that if he ordered, a copy of the report would be provided. Following this, Dubey moved the HC again. Following initial arguments, the bench of Justice Vishal Mishra issued notices to the respondents seeking a
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC notice to officials over denial of RTI information
Bhopal/Jabalpur: The MP high court has issued notices to a state information commissioner, the Jabalpur municipal commissioner, and the chief information officer of the Jabalpur municipal corporation (JMC) over the alleged denial of information sought under the RTI Act by a JMC employee, despite earlier directives from the MP high court. The petitioner, Shivmohan Dwivedi, said he works with JMC on the post of assistant. He was charged to have furnished wrong information about posts available in JMC and an appointment on compassionate grounds was given on the basis of wrong information received from him. A charge-sheet was issued to him in April, 2016. The investigation officer was changed three times. When he sought a copy of the inquiry report under RTI, he was refused information. On November 18, 2024, MP high court asked JMC to furnish him the desired information within 30 days. Subsequently, the State Information Commission also asked the JMC to furnish him information sought under RTI and warned to impose cost otherwise. When the order was not complied with, a pribe against JMC officials concerned was also ordered. The officers concerned replied that the report is with the JMC commissioner and if he orders, a copy of the report would be provided. Following this, Dubey moved the high court again. Following initial arguments, the bench of Justice Vishal Mishra issued notices to respondents seeking a response. Advocate Ajay Raijada appeared in the case for the petitioner.
Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
State Information Commission directs Rakhial police to provide CCTV footage in gambling case, with conditions
The State Information Commission has directed the Rakhial police station in Ahmedabad to provide CCTV footage related to a gambling case arrest, while ensuring the details of others in the footage are obscured. This order was passed by State Information Commissioner Manoj Patel in response to an appeal by Mohammed Sufiyan Rajput, a Rakhial resident. According to the details, police conducted a raid in February 2024 in which the applicant along with others were arrested for alleged violation of the Gambling Act and was taken to the police station. Rajput had sought CCTV footage of the police station of the relevant episode when he and other accused were taken to the police station. Rajput's application was rejected by the concerned Public Information Officer (PIO) under the provisions of Section 8 (1)(j) of the Right to Information Act and also since he was one of the accused in the case. Section 8 of the RTI Act is related to exemption from disclosure of certain information. And Section 8(1)(j) states, 'information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information…' The applicant had first challenged the PIO order before the Appellate Authority under the Act. However, the appeal was not allowed by the appellate authority, following which he moved a second appeal before the State Information Commission. Deciding upon the appeal, the State Information Commissioner Manoj Patel in his order, dated July 8, noted: 'At this juncture, in the interest of justice, the Commission finds it appropriate to provide the applicant's footages free of cost by separating it and hiding others' details. The Public Information Officer has agreed to this.' Eventually, the Commission ordered the PIO to provide the applicant the CCTV footage to the extent of his presence while 'hiding' the details of others in it through an RPAD (Registered Post Acknowledgement Due). An official of Rakhial police station said that following the Commission's order, they have provided the relevant CCTV footages to the applicant where he can be seen but the details of others have been blurred.
