[HumJanenge] FUNCTIONING OF ORISSA INFORMATION COMMISSION UNDER HIGH COURT SCANNER

FUNCTIONING OF ORISSA INFORMATION COMMISSION UNDER HIGH COURT SCANNER

 

On a Public Interest Writ Petition W. P. (C) No.10848/2012

moved by Sri Pradip Pradhan, leading RTI activist and Convener of Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan, on 18.7.12, the Orissa High Court has been pleased to issue notices of show-cause to the Chief Secretary, Secretaries of I & PR Deptt., Planning & Coordination Deptt., Finance Deptt., Information Commission through its Secretary, Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioner Mr. Jagadanand, formerly Chief Information Commissioner Mr. D. N. Padhi and formerly Information Commissioner Prof. Radha Mohan.

 

The Division Bench comprising Hon'ble the Chief Justice Mr. V. Gopala Gowda and Hon'ble Mr. Justice S. K. Mishra was moved by the Petitioner through his counsel Mr. Subha Bikash Panda to come down heavily on the very manner of functioning of the Orissa Information Commission, a quasi-judicial autonomous authority as well as the State Executives contrary to the mandates of Section-26 of the RTI, 2005. The Petitioner in his writ petition inter alia has alleged that the State Govt. has completely abdicated its power and function in favour of the Commission and the Commission has been indulging itself in activities in the name and style of Information, Education and Communication (IEC), beyond the scope and ambit of the statue. It has further been alleged that such kind of activities carried on by the Commission since its inception till date has resulted in gross misappropriation of public exchequer to the tune of more than rupees five crores over the years, which requires a thorough probe and recovery from the errant Commission and its Commissioners.

The rule issued by the Court has brought in a sigh of relief among the bona fide RTI activists of the State and the public at large and has given a jolt on the face of the Govt. before it goes for appointment of another Information Commissioner sans a transparent procedure in the matter of such appointment.

The petition has been posted for hearing of the parties after a month.

 

Posted by

Pradip Pradhan  

M-99378-43482

Date-25.7.12            

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