Applications for the post of Information Commissioner, reopened

The President’s Office has reopened applications for the vacancy of the Information Commissioner’s post once more.

The office will be accepting completed applications from 10:30am to 12:30pm on July 12, a Monday and July 13.

The government revealed that application forms will be available for download from their official website.

Applications to the post were opened after the resignation of Hussain Fiyaz Moosa as Information Commissioner, on March 21.

In April President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s nominations to the post were sent for review to the People’s Majlis Committee on Independent Institutions. The three nominations by the president are Shiham Mohamed Waheed, Ahmed Ahid Rasheed and Mariyam Aleem.

Although the committee interviewed all three, none of them received approval, following which the applications were reopened.

Fiyaz was appointed Information Commissioner on 31 October 2019.

Under Article 49 of the RTI Act, the Information Commissioner may resign from the post by submitting a written resignation to the president.

The Information Commissioner’s Office was established on 13 July 2014 in accordance with Article 43 (a) of the RTI Act which mandates the Information Commissioner to enforce the RTI Act.

The Information Commissioner’s Office is established to uphold the right of the public interest of acquiring and dissemination of the information, in addition to encouraging the enforcement of open governance among the state institutions. Apart from this, the Information Commissioner's Office also enforces the Right to Information Act and administers the regulations that come under the RTI Act.

Prior to his resignation, Fiyaz had, in his capacity as Information Commissioner, appealed to the public in January to familiarize themselves with the rights afforded to them under the RTI Act, and said it would be a key tool in holding government institutions accountable and ensuring transparency in the use of public funds.