The Central Information Commission is a high-powered independent body which inter alia looks into the complaints made to it and decides the appeals.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) set up under the Right To Information act is the authorized quasi judicial body, established in 2005,under the Government of India to act upon complaints from those individuals who have not been able to submit information requests to a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer due to either the officer not having been appointed, or because the respective Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public Information Officer refused to receive the application for information under the RTI Act.
Under the provision of Section-12 of RTI Act 2005 the Central Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette,constitute a body to be known as the Central Information Commission.
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.
All are appointed by the president on recommendation of prime minister, union minister nominated by him and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha.
They hold office till age of 65 or 5 years. The information commissioner is eligible for post of chief information commissioner but can be in office for maximum 5 years including his tenure of information commissioner.
Removal is done by president on grounds of bankruptcy, unsound mind, infirmity of body or mind, sentenced to imprisonment for a crime, or engages in paid EMPLOYMENT.
He can also be removed for proved misbehavior or incapacity if SC inquiry finds him guilty. They can resign by writing to president.
Functions
It Acts as second appellate authority for RTI applications.
Inquires into complaints under RTI Act
Have powers of a Civil Court. No public record can be withheld from it during inquiry of complaints.
Can secure compliance of its orders from a public authority
Submits annual reports to the central govt which are tabled before the house.
Commission can recommend steps to be taken by an authority to become complaint under RTI.
3 Levels – Public Information Officer, First Appellate Authority, Central Information Commission(CIC).
Time period for Public Information Officer : Expeditiously or within 30 days from the date of receipt by public authority.
Maximum time gap for 1st appeal : 30 days since limit of supply of information is expired.
Time period for Appellate Authority : Within 30 days or in exceptional cases 45 days from the date of receipt by public authority.
Maximum time gap for 2nd appeal : 90 days since limit of supply of information is expired.
RTI act also asks for computerization and proactively publish information.
Bodies applicable under RTI : Constitutional Bodies at center and state ( Legislature, Executive, Judiciary), bodies/NGOs owned/financed by government, privatized public utility companies.
Bodies excluded under RTI : Central Intelligence and Security Agencies, agencies of state specified through notification. The exclusion is not absolute.
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.
31 sections and 6 chapters in the act.
Section 8 deals with information exempted under the purview of this act
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The Central Information Commission (CIC) is an independent statutory body of India established under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The CIC is responsible for ensuring the implementation of the RTI Act and for providing a mechanism for citizens to access information from public authorities.
The CIC is headed by a Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and two Information Commissioners (ICs). The CIC is assisted by a Secretariat headed by a Secretary. The CIC has jurisdiction over all Central Government departments and agencies, as well as over State Governments and their agencies, if they have voluntarily adopted the RTI Act.
The functions of the CIC include:
Receiving complaints from citizens about non-compliance with the RTI Act;
Investigating complaints and taking appropriate action;
Providing directions to public authorities for compliance with the RTI Act;
Promoting awareness about the RTI Act;
Conducting research and studies on the implementation of the RTI Act;
Publishing annual reports on its activities.
The CIC is composed of a Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and two Information Commissioners (ICs). The CIC is appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the Justice-of-india/”>Chief Justice of India, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. The ICs are appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of the Chief Justice of India, the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
The CIC has the following powers and functions:
To receive complaints from any person who has been denied access to information under the RTI Act;
To investigate such complaints and take appropriate action;
To provide directions to public authorities for compliance with the RTI Act;
To promote awareness about the RTI Act;
To conduct research and studies on the implementation of the RTI Act;
To publish annual reports on its activities.
The procedure for making an application to the CIC is as follows:
The application should be made in writing and should be addressed to the CIC.
The application should be accompanied by a fee of Rs. 100.
The application should be accompanied by proof of identity and address of the applicant.
The application should be specific and should clearly state the information that is being sought.
The application should be accompanied by a copy of the order of the public authority denying access to information.
The CIC has to dispose of an application within 30 days of its receipt. However, the CIC may extend this period by a further 30 days if it is satisfied that there are good reasons for doing so.
An appeal against an order of the CIC can be made to the High Court within 30 days of the receipt of the order.
Any person who contravenes the provisions of the RTI Act is liable to be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with a fine which may extend to Rs. 25,000, or with both.
No person shall be liable to any action for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith under the RTI Act.
The RTI Act is a powerful tool that can be used by citizens to access information from public authorities. The CIC is an independent body that is responsible for ensuring the implementation of the RTI Act. The CIC has the power to investigate complaints, provide directions to public authorities, and promote awareness about the RTI Act.
What is the Right to Information Act?
The Right to Information Act (RTI) is an Indian law that gives citizens the right to access information from the government. It was passed in 2005 and came into effect in 2006.
What information can I get under the RTI Act?
You can get any information from the government, except for information that is exempted under the Act. Some of the information that is exempted includes information that is likely to endanger the security of the state, information that is likely to prejudice the conduct of international relations, information that is likely to prejudice the investigation or prosecution of a criminal case, and information that is likely to infringe the privacy of an individual.
How do I file an RTI application?
You can file an RTI application in writing or online. If you are filing an RTI application in writing, you can send it to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the government department or agency that you are seeking information from. If you are filing an RTI application online, you can do so on the website of the Central Information Commission (CIC).
What is the process for filing an RTI application?
The process for filing an RTI application is as follows:
You need to identify the government department or agency that you are seeking information from.
You need to find the contact details of the PIO of that department or agency.
You need to draft an RTI application.
You need to send the RTI application to the PIO.
The PIO will have to respond to your RTI application within 30 days.
What are the fees for filing an RTI application?
The fees for filing an RTI application are as follows:
If you are filing an RTI application in writing, the fee is Rs.10.
If you are filing an RTI application online, the fee is Rs.10.
If you are a person with disability, the fee is free.
What are the penalties for not responding to an RTI application?
If the PIO does not respond to your RTI application within 30 days, you can file a complaint with the CIC. The CIC can impose a penalty of up to Rs.25,000 on the PIO for not responding to your RTI application.
What are the remedies if the information provided by the government is not satisfactory?
If the information provided by the government is not satisfactory, you can file a second appeal with the CIC. The CIC can order the government to provide you with the information that you have asked for.
It helps to empower citizens and make them more aware of their rights.
It helps to improve the quality of governance.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) is a statutory body established under the Right to Information Act, 2005. Which of the following is not a function of the CIC? (A) To receive complaints from citizens about the non-disclosure of information by public authorities (B) To inquire into complaints and recommend appropriate action (C) To provide guidance to public authorities on the implementation of the RTI Act (D) To adjudicate appeals against orders of the State Information Commissions
The CIC is headed by a Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) who is appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a selection committee. Which of the following is not a qualification for appointment as the CIC? (A) A person who has been a judge of The Supreme Court or of a High Court for at least five years (B) A person who has been a member of the Indian Administrative Service or of the Indian Foreign Service for at least ten years (C) A person who has been a member of the Central or State Legislature for at least five years (D) A person who is a distinguished jurist or academician
The CIC has a bench of Information Commissioners (ICs) who are appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a selection committee. Which of the following is not a qualification for appointment as an IC? (A) A person who is a member of the Indian Administrative Service or of the Indian Foreign Service for at least five years (B) A person who is a member of the Central or State Legislature for at least five years (C) A person who is a distinguished jurist or academician (D) A person who has been a member of the Central Information Commission for at least two years
The CIC has jurisdiction to inquire into complaints from citizens about the non-disclosure of information by public authorities. Which of the following is not a public authority? (A) A State Government (B) A Central Government (C) A local authority (D) A private company
The CIC has the power to recommend appropriate action to the public authority concerned in case of a complaint of non-disclosure of information. Which of the following is not an appropriate action that the CIC can recommend? (A) To direct the public authority to disclose the information (B) To impose a penalty on the public authority (C) To recommend disciplinary action against the public authority (D) To recommend prosecution of the public authority
The CIC has the power to adjudicate appeals against orders of the State Information Commissions. Which of the following is not an appeal that can be filed before the CIC? (A) An appeal against an order of the State Information Commission refusing to disclose information (B) An appeal against an order of the State Information Commission imposing a penalty on a public authority (C) An appeal against an order of the State Information Commission recommending disciplinary action against a public authority (D) An appeal against an order of the State Information Commission recommending prosecution of a public authority
The CIC has the power to suo motu inquire into any matter relating to the implementation of the RTI Act. Which of the following is not a matter that the CIC can suo motu inquire into? (A) A matter relating to the non-disclosure of information by a public authority (B) A matter relating to the improper disclosure of information by a public authority (C) A matter relating to the misuse of the RTI Act (D) A matter relating to the violation of the RTI Act
The CIC has the power to issue directions to public authorities for the implementation of the RTI Act. Which of the following is not a direction that the CIC can issue? (A) A direction to a public authority to disclose information (B) A direction to a public authority to improve its record-keeping system (C) A direction to a public authority to train its employees on the RTI Act (D) A direction to a public authority to create a website for the dissemination of information
The CIC has the power to recommend amendments to the RTI Act. Which of the following is not an amendment that the CIC can recommend? (A) An amendment to increase the scope of the RTI Act (B) An amendment to reduce the scope of the RTI Act (C) An amendment to make the RTI Act more user-friendly (D) An amendment to make the RTI Act more effective
The CIC has the power to publish an annual report on its activities. Which of the following is not a matter that the CIC must include in its annual report? (A) The number of complaints received by the CIC (B) The number of inquiries conducted by the CIC (C) The number of appeals disposed of by the CIC