Islamic Ministry fined MVR 700 for failing to appear at ICOM hearings

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICOM) has fined the Islamic Ministry for failing to appear in hearings in two different claims lodged over alleged failure to share information as required under the Right to Information Act.

A spokesperson from ICOM told Sun that the Islamic Ministry was fined total 700 – MVR 350 each – for failing to attend two hearings scheduled for Monday.

The ICOM postpones hearings in respond to requests made with valid reasons at least one hour prior to start of hearings.

While the ICOM has postponed two hearings at the request of Islamic Ministry in the past, the office says it received no such requests on Monday.

According to ICOM, the hearing in the case was originally scheduled for February 3, but was postponed to Sunday and then to Monday at the ministry’s request.

However, the ministry failed to show up at the hearings and nor did it notify the office that it was unable to attend it.

ICOM said it was treating the incident as an act of obstruction of the office from performing its duties.