Why in news?
The Chief Information Commissioner’s tenure ended recently, leaving the Central Information Commission without a head. This vacancy has revived concerns about delays in adjudicating appeals under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
About CIC
The CIC was established on 12 October 2005 under the RTI Act to ensure transparency and accountability in the working of public authorities. It functions as the final appellate authority on RTI matters and has quasi‑judicial powers.
Structure
- The Commission comprises one Chief Information Commissioner and up to ten Information Commissioners.
- They are appointed by a committee consisting of the Prime Minister (chair), the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
- Appointments are for a term of up to three years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
Functions
- Second appeals: Hear appeals against decisions of central public information officers.
- Complaints: Investigate complaints regarding refusal of information, delays or excessive fees.
- Monitoring: Review compliance with proactive disclosure norms under Section 4 of the RTI Act.
- Penalties: Impose fines on officials for wilful non‑disclosure or misrepresentation.
- Advisory role: Recommend reforms and report annually to Parliament on implementation of the Act.
Challenges
- Vacancies: Delay in filling posts of commissioners hampers disposal of cases.
- Backlog: Thousands of appeals are pending, leading to long wait times for applicants seeking information.
- Compliance: Many public authorities do not proactively disclose information, forcing citizens to resort to RTI requests.
Way forward
- Fill vacancies expeditiously through a transparent process.
- Strengthen digital infrastructure to allow e‑filing and virtual hearings.
- Promote a culture of transparency within public offices so that citizens need not rely on appeals.
- Ensure adequate staff and budgets to prevent delays.