http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CIC-to-seek-legal-sanction-for-its-benches/articleshow/5978069.cms
CIC to seek legal sanction for its benches
NEW DELHI: The Central Information Commission plans to approach the government for amendments in Right to Information rules to give legal sanction to the benches it has constituted. The Delhi High Court had recently struck down the CIC's management rules and questioned the validity of benches constituted by the commission to hear its cases.
Sources said CIC is likely to ask DoPT for changes in RTI rules. Incidentally, the government had proposed this as part of amendments to the RTI Act. However, that is likely to be a long drawn affair as the process of consultation has not even begun.
Meanwhile, confusion prevailed in the CIC with some hearings being postponed. Chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah had convened a meeting of all information commissioners on Wednesday to discuss the repercussions of the HC decision where some commissioners have expressed reservations over continuing hearing of appeals.
They had said continuation of work would mean contempt of court as the decision raised a question mark over the legality of hearing process at the panel, sources said. The view did not get support of Habibullah and other members who said stopping work would not be in public interest.
At present, appeals are heard by individual commissioners or a group of commissioners in division or full bench depending on the matter.
"We have sought legal opinion on the order. I have been told that there was nothing in the order which barred hearings by individual commissioners. We will abide by the HC order and will approach the government seeking clarity on the matter but work will continue," Habibullah said.
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