A short note on Central Information Commission

Nothing in the world is as influential and aspired as the freedom of a living being. The bird in a cage holds the ability to sing, but it doesn’t, because it doesn’t have the freedom of living which makes her life not enjoyable. The individuals on the Earth are just like the bird, constantly searching for peace of mind in various freedoms which they enjoy. So is the Right to Information which holds a key position in the base of democracy. It is for this purpose itself that the government has set up the autonomous body of the Central Information Commission that looks into the smooth functioning of the democratic principles that are laid down by the administration. 

About the Central Information Commission

Set up in 2005, the Central Information Commission is an autonomous non-constitutional body that determines if the democratic principles are efficiently being followed in the country or not. The Commission files complaints and looks into the matter of those people who have failed to submit information to the government when asked about it. Basic objectives of this council stand on promoting a feeling of accountability and transparency in the country with empowering the citizens with the information. The Central Information Commission headquarters has been set up at Bhikaji Cama Place in New Delhi. 

Composition 

The Central Information Commission chairman, Chief Information Officer, is the head of the council. The chief information officer is joined by ten more Information Commissioners that assist the chairman. Talking about the tenure of the chairman, the chief holds it for a tenure of five years. 

About the data for 2019, the current tenure, the Chief Information officer is joined by six information commissioners. It is the duty of the President and other three prominent members, including the Prime Minister, Union Cabinet Minister and Leader of the Opposition party in the Lok Sabha to nominate the commissioners of the commission. 

Removal 

The Chief Information Commissioner and the other council members can be removed from their position by the President if 

• Any of them has been proven insolvent

• Considered unfit to continue the remaining tenure as the information officer

• Engaged in any kind of paid employment other than what he is currently into

• Proven guilty of an offence that involves any kind of moral turpitude

In addition to the above-mentioned cases of removal, the chief and its other members can also be removed on the ground of incapacity or any kind of misbehaviour. Nevertheless, in such cases it is deemed necessary to first consult the Supreme Court, if the Supreme Court approves the same, then the President can remove the members. 

Role and Functions 

The role of the Central Information Commission is simple and specific. It is the Central Information Commission that looks into the matters of: 

• Receiving and investigating the complaint regarding the absence of information even after requesting it

• Ordering an investigation into the matters which it thinks are reasonable

• At the time of investigation, the council has the powers of a civil court where it can summon and demand any document it wants about the complaint

• Assists those who are incapable of getting a response from an individual with concern to the request of information that he/she has made

• Assisting those who have been denied for the demand of information made

• Examination of any record that is being held by any public authority and thus all the information should be disclosed without withholding necessary info

Issues related to Commission

There are numerous issues faced by the commission and thus it is not free from the flaws which undermine its working

• The Central Information Commission faces the issue of lack of transparency as there are no records, about the selection procedure of the commission

• There are numerous pending and backlog complaints with the commission which keep on piling up. The reason behind this issue is the fact that it takes about 388 to solve a single case which adds to the piling up of the coming cases and complaints with the commission

• It also faces the problem of not punishing government personnel that has broken any kind of law or principle

• Even after numerous directions from the court of law, the commission still faces the problems of vacancies

Conclusion 

It is necessary that the issues which are surrounding the Central Information Commission are worked upon, so that the efficiency of the work done by the Commission can be improved. Vacant positions in the commission should be filled as soon as possible, thinking of the required people that will make things go efficiently. It should be mandated that the existing government organizations should be held accountable for the activities that are done. Indeed, this would put an end to all the corruption and conspiracies.