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Maharashtra: Information Commission panel sends wishlist to CM Devendra Fadnavis for better service

The demands include filling up vacant posts, particularly that of the information commissioner of the Amravati bench. The bench as of now has close to 6,000 appeals pending. It also raised questions of "skeletal" staff strength in each of the benches. Inspection wing at each commission to check compliance of the panel's orders is also desired.

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In its bid to serve the citizens better, the State Information Commission (SIC) has sent a slew of demand to the Devendra Fadnavis government. The demands come in the backdrop of the meeting the CM had with four information commissioners – Ratnakar Gaikwad, A K Jain, T Thekkekakra and D B Deshpande – on January 16.

Among the demands are request for a legal cell and inspection cell at the commission. In its letter, the SIC states that the legal cell will come handy while handling complicated cases. "A number of times there are high court orders that are conflicting. In such cases, we need some guidance and having some legal experts could help," said Ratnakar Gaikwad who wrote the letter.

The other demands include filling up vacant posts, particularly that of the information commissioner of the Amravati bench. The bench as of now has close to 6,000 appeals pending. It also raised questions of "skeletal" staff strength in each of the benches. Inspection wing at each commission to check compliance of the panel's orders is also desired.

The letter further talks of information officers (PIOs) not being fined. Training of PIOs and first appellate authority and disadvantaged persons is recommended to raise awareness of the RTI Act. The letter also suggests the government consider having the implementation of the Public Records Act and Services Act under one department.

Bhaskar Prabhu of the Mahiti Adhikar Manch backed the demands. "If there is a legal cell, commission will be better informed. Contentions should be in front of the commissioner before hearing. In many cases, the complainant is not called, so compliance ends up becoming a one-sided affair. A number of times inquiries are not conducted properly which make orders of the commission redundant." Prabhu said as far as compliance is concerned, a network of citizens' groups can be of great help.

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