freedom1 Forum welcomes the move the National Information Commission (NIC) took against the Judicial Council for violating the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The NIC slapped a fine of Rs. 1 to the Judicial Council (JC) for not abiding by its directive.
The NIC, on December 29, 2011 had written to the JC ordering it to provide the information sought by journalist Anant Raj Luitel regarding the appointment of the judges, function of the judges, process of their removal and others after 2006, said Chief Information Commissioner, Binay Kasajoo.
However, the JC denied information in spite of repeated directives. So, it was fined as per Rule 32 (5) of the NIC.
Journalist Luitel had the sought information with the Council on December 9, 2011.
Although the fine is minimal, the NIC’s punishment to the JC is symbolic that any public agency hiding information is punishable as it is the violation of the rule.
The NIC move has come in a bid to make the JC transparent and accountable to the public.