RTI activist requests PM to restore Right of Review of CIC

An RTI activist has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, requesting him to restore the Right of Review of the decisions of the Central Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners.

An RTI activist has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, requesting him to restore the Right of Review of the decisions of the Central Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners, which has been withdrawn by the CIC few months ago.

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In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the activist Vinayak Trimbak Gokhale said, "the regulation 23 of CIC (Management) Regulations has been amended W.E.F. October 20, 2008 to the effect that the Review/Appeal of decision given by Information Commissioners of Central Information Commission (CIC) is not possible now and its decision will be final."

"I request you to take suitable steps to restore the right of review to the citizens by inserting suitable provision in CIC (Appeal Procedure) Rules, 2005 made by the Government," Gokhale wrote in his letter to the Prime Minister.

The right of review will, however, save time, money, energy and mental torture for citizens, Gokhale said.

The activist, in his five-page letter, has also mentioned that the only option left now to citizens is to go to the court with a writ petition. As it is, information seekers are finding it difficult to attend hearing at Delhi and present their case, he wrote in his letter.

Gokhale has also said the right of review is possible when there is a technical error in the decision and perceived error of fact, an omission to consider certain material facts relevant for the decision, CIC was misled and an opportunity of being heard is not given to Appellants.