CIC vacancies to be filled soon, SC told

New Delhi, December 13

The Centre today told the Supreme Court that 65 persons have applied for the post of Chief Information Commissioner and 280 for four vacant posts of Information Commissioner in the Central Information Commission.

The government counsel told a Bench headed by Justice AK Sikri that names would be shortlisted and decisions would be taken soon.

At present, the post of Chief Information Commissioner and seven of the 10 posts of Information Commissioner in the Central Information Commissioner (CIC) are vacant, affecting its functioning.

The top court is seized of a PIL filed by RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj and others demanding filling of vacancies in CIC. The PIL also demanded filling of vacancies in the state information commission.

Taking serious note of vacancies in central and state information commissions, the SC had on July 27 directed the Central and state governments to file affidavits in four weeks detailing the steps taken to fill them. It had also asked the Centre and states to give a timeline of the steps to be taken for filling the vacancies along with the procedure to be followed and ways to make the entire process transparent. Expressing concern over lack of manpower in CIC and state information commissions, the Bench had earlier said: “We will ensure that the posts are filled.” — TNS