Order of the Supreme Court related to the appointment of Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission (CIC)
Recently, the Supreme Court has ordered the Central Government to officially furnish accurate information on vacancies and pending cases related to the appointment of Information Commissioners to the ‘Central Information Commission’.
Related Issue
A petition filed in the Supreme Court has sought a direction to government officials to implement the directions given by the apex court in a 2019 verdict.
Supreme Court’s decision:
- Several instructions were issued to the Central and State Governments to fill the vacant posts in the Central and State Information Commissions transparently and in a timely manner.
- The court had given three months’ time to the Center to fill up the vacancies in the ‘Central Information Commission’.
Central Information Commission
- The Central Information Commission was constituted by the Central Government in the year 2005, under the Right to Information Act,
- Among its principal members, the Commission consists of a Chief Information Commissioner and a maximum of ten Information Commissioners.
- The members of the commission are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a selection committee. The committee consists of the Prime Minister as the chairman, and the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha as members and other Union cabinet ministers nominated by the prime minister.
- The Chief Information Commissioner and an Information Commissioner holds office for a period as may be prescribed by the Central Government or till they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. Further, the members of the Commission are not eligible for reappointment.
Functions and Powers of ‘Central Information Commission’
- Its main function is to receive and investigate complaints of any person regarding the information sought under the Right to Information Act,
- The Central Information Commission may, on reasonable grounds (taking suo-motu cognizance) order an inquiry into any matter.
- During the course of investigation, the commission has the same powers as a civil court with regard to summoning any person concerned, demanding documents, etc.
Source – The Hindu