End the deadlock at the Information Commission

End the deadlock at the Information Commission

The prolonged leadership vacuum within the Information Commission has effectively paralyzed its ability to adjudicate citizen complaints regarding information access. With hundreds of grievances pending and no commissioners appointed to enforce legal penalties or order compensation, the primary mechanism for upholding transparency rights remains non-functional, leaving citizens without crucial legal recourse against bureaucratic withholding of data. This institutional stagnation extends beyond dispute resolution, significantly hindering public education and awareness initiatives essential for democratic engagement. Without active commissioners to conduct training or publish necessary materials, the broader societal understanding of information rights erodes, undermining the practical utility of legal frameworks designed to promote government accountability and citizen empowerment. For open data advocates, this crisis highlights how administrative delays can nullify the enforceability of transparency laws, regardless of their textual existence. Restoring the commission with qualified, impartial members is vital not only for resolving individual cases but also for maintaining the structural integrity of information ecosystems. Governments must prioritize transparent appointments to ensure that the right to know remains a living, operative principle rather than a dormant statute.

Source: thedailystar.net
Published on 2026-09-30