Central Information Commission (CIC)

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.

Salient Features of Right to information act 2005

Replaced Freedom of Information Act 2002.
Jammu and Kashmir has separate Right To Information Act – RTI 2009.
RTI relaxes restrictions placed by Official secrets act 1923.
3 Levels – Public Information Officer, First Appellate Authority, Central Information Commission(CIC).
Time period for Public Information Officer : Expeditiously or within 30 daysfrom 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 daysor 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

The Central Information Commission (CIC) is an independent statutory body set up under the Right to Information Act, 2005 to provide a mechanism for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities.

The CIC was established on 12 October 2005 and is headquartered in New Delhi. The CIC has jurisdiction over the entire country and is headed by a Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and two Information Commissioners (ICs).

The CIC is responsible for ensuring compliance with the RTI Act and for resolving any complaints or appeals arising from its implementation. The CIC also has the power to impose penalties on public authorities for non-compliance with the RTI Act.

The RTI Act is a landmark legislation that gives citizens the right to access information held by public authorities. The Act was passed by the Parliament of India in 2005 and came into force on 12 October 2005.

The RTI Act gives citizens the right to access information held by any public authority, including the Central Government, State Governments, local bodies, and Statutory Bodies. The Act also provides for the appointment of Information Commissioners to oversee the implementation of the Act.

The RTI Act has been hailed as a major step forward in the fight against Corruption and transparency in governance. The Act has empowered citizens to demand information from public authorities and to hold them accountable for their actions.

The RTI Act has also had a significant impact on the functioning of public authorities. Public authorities have been forced to become more transparent and accountable in their dealings with the public. The Act has also led to a number of reforms in the way public authorities function.

The RTI Act is a powerful tool that can be used by citizens to demand information from public authorities and to hold them accountable for their actions. The Act has had a significant impact on the functioning of public authorities and has made them more transparent and accountable.

To file an RTI application, you need to fill up an RTI application form and submit it to the concerned public authority. The RTI application form can be obtained from the website of the concerned public authority or from the public information officer (PIO) of the public authority.

The RTI application form should be accompanied by a fee of Rs. 10/-. The fee can be paid in cash or by demand draft or by cheque.

The RTI application should be addressed to the PIO of the concerned public authority. The PIO is the designated officer who is responsible for providing information to the public under the RTI Act.

The RTI application should be specific and should clearly state the information that you are seeking. The RTI application should also state the reasons why you are seeking the information.

The PIO is required to provide the information within 30 days of the receipt of the RTI application. If the PIO fails to provide the information within the stipulated time period, you can file a complaint with the CIC.

The CIC is an independent statutory body that is responsible for resolving any complaints or appeals arising from the implementation of the RTI Act. The CIC can be approached by filing a complaint or an appeal.

To file a complaint with the CIC, you need to fill up a complaint form and submit it to the CIC. The complaint form can be obtained from the website of the CIC or from the CIC office.

The complaint form should be accompanied by a fee of Rs. 100/-. The fee can be paid in cash or by demand draft or by cheque.

The complaint should be specific and should clearly state the grounds on which you are filing the complaint. The complaint should also state the relief that you are seeking.

To file an appeal with the CIC, you need to fill up an appeal form and submit it to the CIC. The appeal form can be obtained from the website of the CIC or from the CIC office.

The appeal form should be accompanied by a fee of Rs. 200/-. The fee can be paid in cash or by demand draft or by cheque.

The appeal should be specific and should clearly state the grounds on which you are filing the appeal. The appeal should also state the relief that you are seeking.

The CIC is a powerful tool that can be used by citizens to seek information from public authorities and to hold them accountable for their actions. The CIC has had a significant impact on the functioning of public authorities and has made them more transparent and accountable.

If you have any questions about the RTI Act or the CIC, you can contact the CIC at the following address:

Central Information Commission

5th Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan

Khan Market

New Delhi – 110 001

Phone: 011-24610906

Fax: 011-246109

What is the Right to Information Act?

The Right to Information Act (RTI) is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted in 2005 to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities, in order to promote Transparency and Accountability in the working of the Government.

Who can file an RTI application?

Any citizen of India can file an RTI application. A citizen means a person who is a citizen of India and ordinarily resident in India.

What information can be sought under the RTI Act?

Any information under the control of a public authority can be sought under the RTI Act. This includes information in the form of documents, records, files, emails, letters, etc.

How can an RTI application be filed?

An RTI application can be filed in writing either in person or by post. The application must be addressed to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the public authority concerned.

What is the format of an RTI application?

There is no prescribed format for an RTI application. However, the application must contain the following information:

The name and address of the applicant
The name and address of the public authority concerned
The information sought
The reasons for seeking the information
The date and signature of the applicant

What is the fee for filing an RTI application?

There is no fee for filing an RTI application. However, a nominal fee may be charged for providing copies of documents.

How long does it take for an RTI application to be processed?

A public authority must respond to an RTI application within 30 days of the receipt of the application. However, this time limit may be extended by a further 30 days if the public authority is unable to provide the information within the first 30 days.

What are the consequences of not responding to an RTI application?

If a public authority fails to respond to an RTI application within the stipulated time limit, the applicant can file a complaint with the Central Information Commission (CIC) or the State Information Commission (SIC). The CIC or SIC can impose penalties on the public authority for not responding to the RTI application.

What are the remedies available if the information provided is not satisfactory?

If the information provided by the public authority is not satisfactory, the applicant can file a second appeal with the CIC or SIC. The CIC or SIC can order the public authority to provide the information or to take any other action as it deems fit.

What are the penalties for providing false or misleading information?

Any person who provides false or misleading information under the RTI Act is liable to be punished with imprisonment for a term of up to two years or with a fine of up to Rs. 25,000 or with both.

What are the benefits of the RTI Act?

The RTI Act has several benefits, including:

It promotes transparency and accountability in the working of the Government.
It helps to curb corruption.
It empowers citizens to hold the Government accountable.
It helps to improve the quality of governance.

What are the challenges faced in implementing the RTI Act?

There are several challenges faced in implementing the RTI Act, including:

Lack of awareness about the RTI Act among citizens.
Apathy and indifference of public authorities towards the RTI Act.
Delays in providing information under the RTI Act.
Refusal to provide information under the RTI Act.
Harassment of RTI applicants.

What are the steps that can be taken to address the challenges faced in implementing the RTI Act?

The following steps can be taken to address the challenges faced in implementing the RTI Act:

There is a need to create awareness about the RTI Act among citizens.
There is a need to sensitize public authorities about the RTI Act.
There is a need to strengthen the institutional mechanism for implementation of the RTI Act.
There is a need to enact strong laws to protect RTI activists.
There is a need to build a culture of transparency and accountability in the country.

The Right to Information Act (RTI) was passed in the year:
(a) 2000
(b) 2002
(c) 2005
(d) 2009
The RTI Act gives citizens the right to:
(a) Information from any public authority
(b) Information from the government
(c) Information from the judiciary
(d) Information from the police
The RTI Act does not apply to:
(a) The Prime Minister’s Office
(b) The President’s Office
(c) The Supreme Court
(d) The Election Commission
The RTI Act can be used to seek information about:
(a) The salaries of government employees
(b) The assets of government officials
(c) The minutes of cabinet meetings
(d) All of the above
The RTI Act has been hailed as a landmark legislation that has helped to promote transparency and accountability in government.
(a) True
(b) False
The RTI Act has been criticized for being too complex and for making it difficult for citizens to obtain information.
(a) True
(b) False
The RTI Act has been used to expose corruption and wrongdoing in government.
(a) True
(b) False
The RTI Act has been used to improve the delivery of public Services.
(a) True
(b) False
The RTI Act has been used to hold government officials accountable.
(a) True
(b) False
The RTI Act has been a positive force for change in India.
(a) True
(b) False