Central Information Commission
- It is constituted under the provision of Section-12 of RTI Act 2005.
- The Central Information Commission shall consist of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and such number of Central Information Commissioners not exceeding 10 as may be deemed necessary.
- The jurisdiction of the Commission extends over all Central Public Authorities.
Appointment
Chief information Commissioner and other commissioners are appointed by the president on the recommendation of a committee for which Section 12(3) of the RTI Act 2005 provides as follows :
(i) The Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee;
(ii) The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha ; and
(iii) A Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
Eligibility
- The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance.
- The Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner shall not be a Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any State or Union Territory as the case may be , or hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession.
Term of office
- The Chief Information Commissioner shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Central Government and shall not be eligible for reappointment
- No Chief Information Commissioner shall hold office as such after he has attained the age of sixty-five years.
- Every Information Commissioner shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Central Government or till he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier, and shall not be eligible for reappointment as such Information Commissioner.
- However, Information commissioners are eligible for appointment as the Chief Information Commissioner .
Removal
- The Chief Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner shall be removed from his office only by order of the President on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
- Removal can be done only after the inquiry report of the Supreme Court ,on a reference made to it by the President.
Powers and functions of Information Commissions
- As per the RTI Act 2005, it shall be the duty of the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, to receive and inquire into a complaint from any person,
(a) Who has been unable to submit a request to a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer
(b) Who has been refused access to any information requested under this Act
(c) Who has not been given a response to a request for information or access to information within the time limit specified under this Act
(d) Who has been required to pay an amount of fee which he or she considers unreasonable
(e) Who believes that he or she has been given incomplete, misleading or false information under this Act
(f) In respect of any other matter relating to requesting or obtaining access to records under this Act.
2. Where the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to inquire into the matter, it may initiate an inquiry in respect thereof. ( i.e. Suo moto power)
3. The Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, shall, while inquiring into any matter under this section, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court .
