Expressing displeasure over the negligence in the appointment of state Information Commissioners, the Rajasthan High Court today asked the state government to fill the vacant positions in 10 days.
The division bench comprising justice Dinesh Maheshwari and justice Banwari Lal Sharma gave these orders while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by an RTI activist.
In the PIL, petitioner Surendra Jain had pointed to the "negligence" by the government in strengthening the information mechanism under RTI Act.
Jain said that Rajasthan is the only state where only one Chief Information Commissioner (CIS) has the onus of the Commission and the posts of 9 Information Commissioners are vacant since long.
When the court demanded from AAG Rajesh Panwar the time to be taken in filling these vacant posts, he assured the court that the posts would be filled in 10 days.
The court then, ordered him to fill the posts and produce an action report on February 24.
Earlier, the division bench comprising chief justice Amitav Roy and justice Vijay Bishnoi had ordered the AAG to produce a factual report in the court.
On his appearance today, Panwar informed the court that the process of appointment of Information Commissioners was progressing and assured that the process will be completed in 10 days.
There are about 18,000 appeals pending before the CIC in the state.
In his plea, Jain said because of the vacant positions, there was an inordinate delay in disposal of appeals in the commission.
