The commission holds that requested information about policy regarding eligibility, or, otherwise to get help under ISAS program is public information and it should not only be provided to the Appellant but should have been made available on the web site of the public body. It is right of the Appellant to know reasons as to why his wife has been declared ineligible after receiving one installment. Furthermore, he has the right to know records/information which led to the change in the marital status of his wife which is described on the Portal as ‘unmarried’.
This Commission has observed that information of public importance mentioned in Section 5 of the Act is not being published through the web site of federal public bodies. In fact, the Web sites of federal public bodies contain generic information and not specific information as required under Section 5 of the Act. This is despite the fact that Principal Officer of each public body was required to ensure proactive disclosure of information through web site within 6 months of the commencement of the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017.