News Desk
The Information Commissioner’s Office has fined the Islamic Ministry 700 rufiyaa after it failed to attend a scheduled hearing on two unresolved Right to Information requests.
The office said the ministry had already postponed an earlier session and then did not appear for the rescheduled meeting. Under RTI regulations, agencies unable to attend must give at least one hour’s notice. The ministry did not do so, prompting the fine. Officials described the absence as an obstruction to the Commissioner’s legal duties.
The complaints relate to two separate requests for information that the ministry had not fulfilled. The office noted that other agencies have also been fined in recent months for failing to attend hearings.
The incident comes at a time when the government has been emphasising openness. In his presidential address on 5 February, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said transparency remained a central commitment of the administration. He reported that 1,341 RTI requests were submitted to the President’s Office and ministries over the past year, with 93 per cent already answered. He also highlighted the publication of more than 40,000 social media updates in 2025 and announced weekly open meetings with journalists beginning in March, alongside weekly briefings by cabinet ministers.
The contrast between the administration’s stated priorities and the Islamic Ministry’s absence from the hearing is likely to draw attention, particularly as the government continues to present itself as responsive to the media and the public.
