Imphal: Manipur’s transparency watchdog is paralyzed. The state government failed to appoint a new State Chief Information Commissioner, leaving the Manipur Information Commission leaderless since October 22, 2026. The previous official’s term ended on that date, yet the post remains empty.
The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms sought applicants on September 16, 2026. The submission deadline passed on October 15, 2026. Despite following the schedule, the government stalled. The commission has effectively stopped hearing RTI appeals and complaints. This move persists even though a State Information Commissioner remains on staff. The work has halted.
The Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that governments must initiate vacancy fillings one to two months early. The court pushed for zero delay. Imphal Times reports that procedural sluggishness within the Administrative Reforms Department blocked the appointment. This vacancy threatens the accountability of public administration under the 2005 RTI Act.
The RTI Act does not explicitly require a Chief to conduct hearings. The Central Information Commission proved this in 2025. It operated from September 14 to December 15, 2025, without a chief, while its existing commissioners kept hearing cases. Critics note the contradiction. "The distinction between administrative management and the hearing of appeals and complaints therefore assumes significance," observers say. The government must now explain why it allowed the commission to grind to a halt.
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