Much has been said about the need for time-bound decisions after a filing of petitions with the Central Information Commission (CIC). The backlog, at times, makes petitions heard there only after years (“ > RTI replies should be timely, transparent and trouble-free : Modi”). Though every effort should be made to reduce such late hearings, it may not be practically possible to fix any deadline. However, some commissioners have a tendency to announce verdicts after many months of completion of hearings. Further, the decisions turn out to be quite different from what has been orally decided during the hearings. Verdicts should be reserved only in exceptional cases and that too by a certain time limit.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal,
Delhi
