Central Information Commision

Question 1

Give Legal details and mandate of central information commision.

Answer 1

1) Established under provisions of Right to Information Act(2005).Hence not a constitutional body.
2) It looks into complaints made to it related to offices,fianancial institutions,PSU etc.under centre & UT

Question 2

Enlist in brief composition,appointment & elligibility detailsof CIC.

Answer 2

1 Chief Information Commissioner.
Not more than 10 information commisioners.

Appointment:By president
Recommended by committee of:PM+Leader of Opposition in LS+Union cabinet minister

Members should be:person of eminence in public life with knowledge & experience in law,science,social service,management,journalism etc

Members shouldn’t be:MP,MLA,Should not be holding any other office of profit,business,political ties

Question 3

Describe tenure details of CIC Commisioner.

Answer 3

-Should hold office as prescribed by government or age 65(whichever is earlier)

Question 4

On which grounds the members of CIC are removed?

Answer 4

1. Insolvent
2. Engaged in paid employement
3. unfit to continue
4. unsound mind
5. imprisonment

In addition president can remove on proved misbehavior->that case->matter goes to SC->IF APPROVED->REMOVE

Question 5

What is working conditions of CIC members?

Answer 5

salary,allowances->prescribed by central government->cannot be varied to their disadvantage

Question 6

What are the powers & functions of central information commision?

Answer 6

1. Receive & inquire complaint from any person
   a) who was unable to submit info.request due unavailable public info. oficer(PIO)
   b) who is refused info.
   c) not recieved info. in specified time
   d) thinks charged fees is unreasonable
   e) thinks info. is incomplete,misleading or false
   f) other matter relating to obtaining info.

2.Can order inquiry in any matter(Suo-moto power)

3. has powers of civil court in respect of following
   a) summon & enforce attendance;compelling them to give evidence;produce documents or things
   b) requiring discovery & inspection of documents
   c) receiving evidence on affidavit
   d) requisitioning (an official order laying claim to the use of property or materials) any public record from any court or office.
   e) issuing summons for examination of witnesses or documents
   f) any other matter

4.All public records must be given to commision during inquiry for examination.

5. Commision has power to secure compliance of its decisions from public authorities.It includes
   a) providing info.
   b) directing authority to appoint PIO(Public Information Officer)
   c) publishing info.
   d) changing practices related to management,maintenance & destruction of records
   e) enhancing training provision for officials on right to information
   f) seeking annual report from public authority
   g) making public authority to compensate for any loss or other detriment suffered by applicant.
   h) imposing penalties under this act
   i) rejecting application
6. commision submits annual report to central government on implementation of provisions of this act.
7. if public authority does not conform to provisions of this act,commision may recommend (to the authority) steps which ought to be taken for promoting such a confirmity.