Mumbai: With bulk hearings, SIC looks to clear backlog in a year’s time

In a year’s time, your appeals with the headquarters bench of the state information commission (SIC) could be taken up for hearing within two month’s from the date of it’s filing. The SIC has come up with “bulk disposal” plan so that appeals are cleared quickly. At the headquarter bench, there were nearly 8,000 appeals pending. 

The commission has transferred 2,866 appeals to Brihanmumbai bench. The bench had just over 700 appeals pending when Ajitkumar Jain retired from the post of information commissioner. 

“There are some applicants who have filed appeals in bulk. We have decided to take these hearings together so that large number of them can be disposed off,” said Sumit Mullick, state chief information commissioner.  

In the February month, Mullick cleared a total of 601 appeals that were filed by 17 applicants alone. In March he cleared 737 appeals from as many applicants. The total number of pending appeals after transferring some to Brihanmumbai bench stands at 4,245 appeals. Of these the commissioner said that one thirds could be cleared in three months

“About 1,500 would be bulk appeals which I can clear in three months,” said Mullick. The remaining, he said, would take another six months or so. In a year’s time, Mullick said, an applicant can look to getting his appeal heard within a period of two month from the date of its filing.  

“It is good that commissioners are taking pro-active steps to clear the appeals. However, while doing so, they should also give strict orders. Appeals are piling up because first appellate authorities are not seriously taking hearings.  They should be taken to task and commissioners should pass comment in their orders on them. 

They are appointed by public authority. If they are not performing well, then their performance should be reviewed and disciplinary action should be taken.

EXPERT SPEAK

“The commissions can be very strong. As per RTI, they cannot fine appellate authority but they can ask public authority to take some action. Also, CM is saying that 22,00 buildings exists that have no occupation certificate. It shows tra-nsparency and that will reduce bulk appeals,” said Bhaskar Prabhu, RTI activist.