New Chief Information Commissioner of India

Government appoints Yashvardhan K Sinha as new Chief Information Commissioner(CIC)

About Central Information Commission 

• It was constituted on 12-10-2005 under the Right to Information Act, 2005. 
• The jurisdiction of the Commission extends over all Central Public Authorities.
• The Commission has certain powers and functions mentioned in sections 18, 19, 20 and 25 of the RTI Act, 2005. These broadly relate to:
• • adjudication in second appeal for giving information
  • direction for record keeping
  • suo motu disclosures receiving and enquiring into a complaint on inability to file RTI
  • imposition of penalties and Monitoring and Reporting including preparation of an Annual Report. 
• The decisions of the Commission are final and binding.

Composition of Central Information Commission(CIC)

It consists of 1 Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and not more than 10 Information Commissioners (IC) who are appointed by the President of India on the recommendations of a Committee

What is the eligibility criteria?

• Section 12(5) of the RTI Act 2005 provides that 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.
• Section 12(6) of the RTI Act 2005 provides that 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.

What is the process of appointment of CIC/IC?

• 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.

Term of office and other service conditions of CIC

• Section 13 of the RTI Act 2005 provides that the Chief Information Commissioner shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office and shall not be eligible for reappointment
• Section 13(5)(a) of the RTI Act 2005 provides that the salaries and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service of the Chief Information Commissioner shall be the same as that of the Chief Election Commissioner.

The term of office and other service conditions of IC

• Section 13(2) of the RTI Act 2005 provides that the Information Commissioner shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office and shall not be eligible for reappointment as such Information Commissioners.
• Provided that every Information Commissioner shall on vacating his office under this sub-section be eligible for appointment as the Chief Information Commissioner 
• The salaries and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service of an Information Commissioner shall be the same as that of an Election Commissioner.