CIC appointments in ‘two or three’ weeks, Centre tells top court, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Central government informed the Supreme Court that the vacancies in the Central Information Commission (CIC) will be filled in "two or three" weeks.
• The CIC currently has no Chief Information Commissioner and only two Information Commissioners out of the sanctioned strength of ten.
• A selection committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and a government nominee has received the shortlisted names of candidates.
• Petitioners, including Anjali Bhardwaj, Commodore Lokesh Batra (retd.), and Amrita Johri, have raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the appointment process.

Detailed Insights:

• The petitioners argue that the appointment process to the CIC, the apex body under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, lacks transparency, with pendency touching 30,000 cases.
• The Supreme Court had directed the government to fill the vacancies 10 months prior to the current hearing.
• Petitioners allege that the government is undermining the RTI Act by delaying appointments and selecting candidates without transparency.
• The government maintains that the eligibility of candidates is determined by the RTI Act, and the petitioners should wait until the appointments are made before raising concerns.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Central Information Commission (CIC): The apex body established under the RTI Act to hear appeals and complaints related to information requests.
• Right to Information (RTI) Act: Legislation that provides citizens access to government information, promoting transparency and accountability.
• Information Commissioner: Appointed officials who adjudicate appeals and complaints under the RTI Act.