PIL seeks directions to fill info panel posts

A lawyer,HC Arora,has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking directions to both Punjab and Haryana to fill the vacant posts in respective state information commissions with judicial members.

The petitioner said that the two information commissions have suspended work ever since the Supreme Court ordered appointment of retired judges or advocates with 20 years of active practice experience as information commissioners.

The petitioner submitted before a division bench that on account of non-availability of judicial members,the two state information commissions have suspended work since September 14.

He sought directions to Punjab and Haryana to fill up one and four vacant posts respectively from among persons with judicial background.

The division bench hearing the case remarked that it appeared that the apex court judgment was being misinterpreted by the Punjab and Haryana information commissions. It asked the petitioner to approach the state governments and if they found not complying with the Supreme Court judgment,then the petitioner may file a contempt petition.

Acting on the direction,Arora sent notices to Punjab and Haryana chief secretaries urging them to initiate the process for filling up the vacancies by intimating the same to the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court so that the CJ may approve some suitable names.

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