RTI 2005 Information Commissions

 Information Commissions

1.	How is Central Information Commission constituted?
2.	What is the eligibility criteria and what is the process of appointment of CIC/IC?
3.	What is the term of office and other service conditions of CIC?
4.	What is the term of office and other service conditions of IC?
5.	How is the State Information Commission constituted?
6.	What is the eligibility criterion and what is the process of appointment of State Chief Information Commissioner/State Information Commissioners?
7.	What are the powers and functions of Information Commissions?
8.	What is the reporting procedure?

 

	1. How is Central Information Commission constituted?
	1. Central Information Commission to be constituted by the Central Government through a Gazette Notification.    2. Commission includes 1 Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and not more than 10 Information Commissioners (IC) who will be appointed by the President of India.  3. Oath of Office will be administered by the President of India according to the form set out in the First Schedule.  4. Commission shall have its Headquarters in Delhi. Other offices may be established in other parts of the country with the approval of the Central Government.  5. Commission will exercise its powers without being subjected to directions by any other authority.
	2. What is the eligibility criteria and what is the process of appointment of CIC/IC?
	1. Candidates for CIC/IC must 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. 2. CIC/IC shall not be a Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any State or Union Territory. He shall not hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession. 3. Appointment Committee includes Prime Minister (Chair), Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and one Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
	3. What is the term of office and other service conditions of CIC?
	1. CIC shall be appointed for a term of 5 years from date on which he enters upon his office or till he attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.  2. CIC is not eligible for reappointment.  3. Salary will be the same as that of the Chief Election Commissioner. This will not be varied to the disadvantage of the CIC during service.
	4. What is the term of office and other service conditions of IC?
	1. IC shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office or till he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier and shall not be eligible for reappointment as IC. 2. Salary will be the same as that of the Election Commissioner. This will not be varied to the disadvantage of the IC during service. 3. IC is eligible for appointment as CIC but will not hold office for more than a total of five years including his/her term as IC.
	5. How is the State Information Commission constituted?
	1. The State Information Commission will be constituted by the State Government through a Gazette notification. It will have one State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) and not more than 10 State Information Commissioners (SIC) to be appointed by the Governor. 2. Oath of office will be administered by the Governor according to the form set out in the First Schedule. 3. The headquarters of the State Information Commission shall be at such place as the State Government may specify. Other offices may be established in other parts of the State with the approval of the State Government. 4. The Commission will exercise its powers without being subjected to any other authority.
	6. What is the eligibility criterion and what is the process of appointment of State Chief Information Commissioner/State Information Commissioners?
	The Appointments Committee will be headed by the Chief Minister. Other members include the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and one Cabinet Minister nominated by the Chief Minister. The qualifications for appointment as SCIC/SIC shall be the same as that for Central Commissioners. The salary of the State Chief Information Commissioner will be the same as that of an Election Commissioner. The salary of the State Information Commissioner will be the same as that of the Chief Secretary of the State Government.
	7. What are the powers and functions of Information Commissions?
	1. The Central Information Commission/State Information Commission has a duty to receive complaints from any person -         a) who has not been able to submit an information request because a PIO has not been appointed ;       b) who has been refused information that was requested       c) who has received no response to his/her information request within the specified time limits ;      d)  who thinks the fees charged are unreasonable       e) who thinks information given is incomplete or false or misleading ;and      f) any other matter relating to obtaining information under this law.  2. Power to order inquiry if there are reasonable grounds. 3. CIC/SCIC will have powers of Civil Court such as -  a) summoning and enforcing attendance of persons, compelling them to give oral or written evidence on oath and to produce documents or things; b) requiring the discovery and inspection of documents;  c) receiving evidence on affidavit ; d)  requisitioning public records or copies from any court or office  e) issuing summons for examination of witnesses or documents f)  any other matter which may be prescribed. 4. All records covered by this law (including those covered by exemptions) must be given to CIC/SCIC during inquiry for examination. 5. Power to secure compliance of its decisions from the Public Authority includes- a) providing access to information in a particular form; b)directing the public authority to appoint a PIO/APIO where none exists; c) publishing information or categories of information; d) making necessary changes to the practices relating to management, maintenance and destruction of records ;  e) enhancing training provision for officials on RTI; f) seeking an annual report from the public authority on compliance with this law;  g) require it to compensate for any loss or other detriment suffered by the applicant ; h) impose penalties under this law; or i) reject the application. (S.18 and S.19)
	8. What is the reporting procedure?
	1. Central Information Commission will send an annual report to the Central Government on the implementation of the provisions of this law at the end of the year. The State Information Commission will send a report to the State Government . 2. Each Ministry has a duty to compile reports from its Public Authorities and send them to the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be.  3. Each report will contain details of number of requests received by each Public Authority, number of rejections and appeals, particulars of any disciplinary action taken, amount of fees and charges collected etc.  4. Central Government will table the Central Information Commission report before Parliament after the end of each year. The concerned State Government will table the report of the State Information Commission before the Vidhan Sabha (and the Vidhan Parishad wherever applicable).