CIC chastises Election Commission for not replying to RTI query
What's the story
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has expressed "severe displeasure" over the Election Commission (EC)'s failure to respond to a Right to Information (RTI) plea.
Noted technical professionals and academicians, including professors from Indian institutes of technology (IITs) and former civil servants, had written to the EC posing questions about the credibility of EVMs and VVPAT machines during elections.
The representation was submitted to the EC on May 2, 2022.
RTI details
Details of the RTI request and EC's non-responsiveness
On November 22, 2022, they filed another RTI application. Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer M G Devasahayam, who was one of the signatories, sought specifics about the parties involved, meetings convened regarding this matter, and relevant file notations.
However, the EC failed to respond within the mandatory 30-day period.
Devasahayam's initial petition to senior officials was also not heard.
CIC rebuke
CIC's rebuke and EC's inadequate justification
Following the EC's non-responsiveness, Devasahayam appealed to the CIC.
Heeralal Samariya, Chief Information Commissioner, interrogated the central public information officer of the EC who failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for ignoring his inquiry.
Samariya stated, "Commission, after perusal of case records and submissions made during hearing, expresses severe displeasure over the conduct of the then PIO in not having provided any reply to the RTI application within the time-frame stipulated under the RTI Act."
CIC directive
CIC's directive to EC for detailed response
Samariya labeled the EC's non-responsiveness as a "gross violation" of law.
He ordered the EC to provide a written explanation for their behavior and directed them to furnish a detailed response to Devasahayam's RTI application within 30 days.
"Through this memorandum, we...would like to place certain posers before the ECI that have a bearing on the very survival of India as...democracy. And we would expect an urgent response to each from the ECI," the letter dated May 2, 2022 read.