The High Court has directed the authorities concerned to establish an “information providing unit” in the Supreme Court within 60 days in line with “The Right To Information Act, 2009”.
The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order and issued a rule on Sunday after hearing a writ petition filed in this regard.
Lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir himself appeared in the court hearing on behalf of his petition, while deputy attorney general Bepul Bagmar represented the state.
In the rule, the HC wanted to know from the respondents to explain as to why they should not be directed to take necessary steps for appointing an information officer after establishing an “information providing unit” in the Supreme Court within 60 days in line with “The Right To Information Act, 2009”.
Registrar general of the Supreme Court, registrars of the Appellate and High Court divisions of the SC have been asked to comply with the rule.
Lawyer Shishir Manir said, “Section 4 of the Right to Information Act states that every citizen has the right to receive information and if any citizen wants information, the concerned authorities are obliged to provide that information. And according to Section 10 of the law, every authority has an obligation to establish an information providing unit and to appoint an officer for that unit.”
“But so far the Supreme Court authority has not taken any step to implement this provision of the law. The High Court has directed to establish the information providing unit within 60 days,” added the lawyer.
The lawyer sought some information from the Supreme Court registrar general's office about the death sentence around six months back. But, the office is yet to provide any information to him, for which he submitted the writ petition on May 26 this year seeking necessary directives from the High Court.
Citing the writ petition, Shishir Manir said not establishing information cell and not appointing information officer at the Supreme Court is a violation of the Right to Information Act and Article 39 of the Constitution, which states for free flow of information and freedom of press.
