The Supreme Court has taken a stringent approach towards ensuring the effective implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act by issuing showcause notices to all State Information Commissions (SICs) across India. The notices demand an explanation for the non-compliance with the court’s earlier directive that mandated the adoption of hybrid hearing options and e-filing for RTI applicants.
Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, overseeing the case, have ordered SICs to submit detailed compliance reports by April 28, 2025. This action follows a contempt petition by advocate Kishan Chand Jain, who argued that the SICs had not adhered to the Supreme Court’s instructions laid out in an October 9, 2023, ruling.
The October ruling was pivotal in promoting accessibility for RTI litigants, particularly those from remote locations, by reducing the need for travel through the provision of online hearings. The court had set a clear deadline of December 31, 2023, for all SICs to implement these hybrid hearings and establish e-filing systems, intending to streamline the process and enhance the efficiency of the RTI framework.
During the proceedings, the bench emphasized the critical nature of the SICs’ role in upholding the fundamental right to information. “We direct that all SICs across the country must provide hybrid modes of hearing to all litigants for the hearing of complaints as well as appeals,” the justices reiterated from their 2023 order.
Moreover, the Supreme Court had specified that virtual hearing links should be included in daily cause lists and had directed state governments to allocate necessary funds for the requisite technological infrastructure. These measures were designed to ensure that service of notices on Public Information Officers (PIOs) could also be managed electronically, thereby facilitating a more efficient administrative process.
