Recently, according to a report, there are 3,21,537 pending appeals and complaints in 27 State Information Commissions in India, and this backlog has been steadily increasing.The report, titled ‘Report Card on the Performance of Information Commissions in India, 2022-23,’ notes that the backlog has grown from 2,18,347 as of March 31, 2019, to 2,86,325 as of June 30, 2021, and has now crossed three lakh cases as of June 30, 2022.The report is based on the performance of Information Commissions across India and information accessed through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, compiled by the Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS), a citizens’ group promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
Key Highlights of the Report Card
Other Poor Performers
- The second maximum number of pending appeals was in Karnataka (41,047) while Tamil Nadu declined to provide the information regarding total pending appeals at its Information Commission which was the worst performing in 2022.
Overall Status in 2023
- A total of 3,21,537 appeals and complaints are pending in 27 State Information Commissions across the country, and the backlog has been steadily increasing.
Previous Years’ Status
- The 2019 assessment had found that a total of 2,18,347 appeals/complaints were pending in the 26 Information Commissions from which data was obtained, which climbed to 2,86,325 in 2021 and then crossed three lakh as in 2022.
Defunct Information Commissions
- Four Information Commissions — Jharkhand, Telangana, Mizoram and Tripura — are defunct as no new Information Commissioners were appointed upon incumbents demitting office.
- Six Information Commissions are currently headless — the Central Information Commission, and the State Information Commissions of Manipur, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Punjab.
Disposal Rate
- The assessment shows that West Bengal State Information Commission (SIC) would take an estimated 24 years and one month to dispose of a matter as per the current standards and is the worst performing in disposal rate.
- In Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, the estimated time taken by SICs for disposing of an appeal or complaint is over four years. The assessment shows that 10 Information Commissions will take one year or more to dispose of an appeal/complaint.
Central and State Information Commission
Central Information Commission (CIC)
- Established: The CIC was established by the Central Government in 2005, under the provisions of the Right to Information Act (2005). It is not a constitutional body.
- Members: The Commission consists of a Chief Information Commissioner and not more than ten Information Commissioners.
- Appointment: They are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Prime Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
- Tenure: The Chief Information Commissioner and an Information Commissioner shall hold office for such term as prescribed by the Central Government or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. They are not eligible for reappointment (as per the amendments made in RTI Act, 2005 in 2019).
- Power and Functions of CIC:It is the duty of the Commission to receive and inquire into a complaint from any person regarding information requested under RTI, 2005.The Commission can order an inquiry into any matter if there are reasonable grounds (suo-moto power).While inquiring, the Commission has the powers of a civil court in respect of summoning, requiring documents etc.
State Information Commission
- It is constituted by the State Government.
- It has one State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) and not more than 10 State Information Commissioners (SIC) to be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Appointments Committee headed by the Chief Minister.