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Chandigarh : The High Court has warned the Punjab government that if proper response is not given in time, strict action will be taken against the post of State Information Commissioner. Regarding the selection process for two posts of State Information Commissioner, the government has assured the court that the selection process for two posts of Commissioner is going on and will be completed by December 15. Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetrapal said that after the disposal of the present petition, there is a second phase of hearing, in which the Punjab government has been directed to complete the election process by August 30.
The court said that this court considers it appropriate to keep this petition pending to ensure compliance, which was assured by the state counsel, failing which this court may take strict action against the Punjab government. In the month of August, Davinder Kaur, Additional Secretary, Punjab Social Reforms and Public Grievances Department, had submitted a status report.
The report said that the process of appointment of Information Commissioners has been completed and a notification in this regard will be issued soon. The Punjab Government had taken the decision but since this process could not be done on time, now a petition has been filed in the High Court and the court has been demanded to intervene in this matter.
In the petition filed in this case, a demand has been made for timely appointment of Information Commissioners in the Punjab State Information Commission. Counsel for the petitioner argued that this is a gross violation of the fundamental rights of the citizens, as the fundamental right to information is being violated due to non-appointment of Information Commissioners and 10 vacant seats of Information Commissioners in the Punjab State Information Commission. Due to this, the pendency of appeals and complaints is increasing day by day.
It was also argued that the appointment of the last Information Commissioner was on April 7, 2021 and the Punjab State Information Commission functioned in its full capacity till September 7, 2021 and thereafter all the 10 Information Commissioner seats became vacant as all those One by one they were filled. , The latter retired after completing his term.