New Delhi, April 1 -- The Supreme Court has issued showcause notices to all State Information Commissions (SICs), directing them to explain their compliance with its October 2023 order mandating online hearings for Right to Information (RTI) applicants, and underscoring the need to ensure accessibility and the effective implementation of the right to know under the RTI Act.

A bench of justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan issued showcause notices of contempt on a petition, requiring SICs to submit their compliance reports by April 28, 2025, detailing steps taken to enable virtual hearings and e-filing.

The notices were issued on a contempt petition filed by advocate Kishan Chand Jain, who contended that SICs had failed to implement the ...