Pending GSIC cases: HC gives Govt week to reply

PANJIM, JAN 19
The issue of increasing pendency of cases in the Goa State Information Commission (GSIC) has reached High Court.  Responding to the writ petition filed by one practicing lawyer Felicia Fernandes, a Division Bench of Justice P B Majmudar and Justice N A Britto on Monday directed the Government to file its reply within a week.
According  to the petition there are large number  of  appeals, complaints  and other matters  filed  by the  citizens and are pending because the functioning  of the  Commission has been paralysed. 
The vacancy resulting due to the sudden death of   Commissioner of GSIC, G G Kambli this month, has not been filled. The Government  has requested the  Chief  Information Commissioner  A Venkatratnam  who is currently on  leave, to  resume  work  as a result of  changed circumstances. 
The functioning of the Commission has been paralysed in entirety, claimed the petitioner. The matters are simply adjourned by the clerk by giving dates to the parties, and thus petitioner has sought adequate directions to the State Government.