Plea to stop in-camera hearings of the SIC

KOCHI: The State Committee of Kerala RTI Federation has demanded the stoppage of in-camera hearings of the State Information Commission.Any hearing at the Commission should be transparent and the public and media should be allowed to be present and witness the proceedings.The transparency in proceedings would prevent corruption, and media reports on proceedings will ensure the Commission is on the right track, said advocate D B Binu, general secretary of the RTI Federation.The present mode of operation of the Commission is to allow only the complainant and the respondents to be present during the hearing.This should be changed to allow the public, and media can attend the proceedings and be aware of the happenings at the Commission hearings, Binu said.The RTI Federation demanded the Chief Information Commissioner of Kerala Sibi Mathews to take immediate steps to ensure that the proceedings of the Commission are more transparent.