ICOM to hold hearings in submitted cases, open to public

The Information Commissioner’s Office has revealed that the hearings in cases submitted to the office, will be opened to the public from 2020 onwards.

During a press conference on Thursday, Information Commissioner Hussain Fiyaz Moosa revealed that their work will be built on a transparent basis where relevant state institutions and companies will provide the information to those seeking it, without any difficulties.

As such, Fiyaz said that the cases will be taken on, with both parties -party that submitted the case and the party on the receiving end- present through a hearing opened to the public.

Highlighting that the office has received 42 complaints thus far in 2019 where parties weren’t able to acquire the required information, out of which the commission has completed 34 cases, and five are currently ongoing.

Fiyaz revealed that under the law which guarantees the right to acquire information, it is important for relevant government offices to provide the information being sought by parties, unless the information is confidential.

Further, Fiyaz added that government offices and state institutions, as well as political parties funded under the state budget, are required to submit a report at the Information Commissioner’s Office once every year. However, it has been revealed that only 12 percent of those required to submit the report, do so, leaving 88 percent that does not do the needful.