Punjab Information Commission: strength lies with appointment of commissioners: CPDI

Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) has raised concerns over the weak complaint redressal mechanism of Punjab Transparency and Right to Information act 2013. In a statement on Friday, CPDI emphasized that non- appointment of Information Commissioners in Punjab Information Commission (PIC) is turning a formerly powerful appellate body into a weaker one.
In case of non provision of requested information, it said, the applicant can lodge complaint in the Punjab Information Commission, where commission is bound to resolve the complaint within 30 to 60 days.
The PIC has powers to even penalize public information officer (PIO) in case of non provision of information. CPDI maintains that despite of an effective provincial RTI law and complaint redressal mechanism, the citizens are not getting information, the statement maintained. Punjab government is violating its own law. Sadly, non-appointment of Information Commissioners for last 11 months has rendered the appellate body and law ineffective, it further said.
The number of pending complaints is also increasing with each day. Mr. Amer Ejaz Executive Director CPDI opined that the actual strength of Commission lies with the commissioners. The appointment is crucial for the implementation and free flow of information between citizens and public bodies, the statement concluded.-PR