Search

    Language Settings
    Select Website Language

    GDPR Compliance

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

    PM-Led Panel to Meet on December 10 to Select Chief Information Commissioner, Centre Informs Supreme Court

    1 month ago

    gcharan News | New Delhi | December 1, 2025

    The Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court that a committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet on December 10 to choose the next Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and other information commissioners for the Central Information Commission.

    The update came while the court was hearing a plea calling for timely appointments to the CIC and various State Information Commissions (SICs).

    Court Seeks Clarity on Vacancies

    A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was told by Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj that the meeting notice has already been issued to all members of the selection committee.

    The judges instructed chief secretaries of all states to submit details on:

    • the sanctioned strength of their SICs,

    • current vacancies, and

    • the number of pending appeals and complaints.

    Petitioners Flag Delay in Appointments

    Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners led by activist Anjali Bhardwaj, argued that multiple SICs continue to function with limited or no staff, resulting in large backlogs. He said that despite several earlier directives from the court, vacancies remain unfilled in many states.

    Some states, he noted, have made only partial appointments and maintain that their existing strength is adequate to handle pendency.

    The petitioners highlighted that the CIC currently has no chief and that eight out of ten commissioner posts are vacant, leading to nearly 30,000 pending cases.

    Previous Court Directions

    Since 2019, the Supreme Court has issued repeated instructions urging the Centre and states to fill vacancies in the CIC and SICs without delay. In earlier hearings, the court expressed concern that the Right to Information Act could lose its effectiveness if the transparency bodies remain understaffed.

    States such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka have informed the court that most of their vacancies have been filled, while Chhattisgarh assured that appointments would be completed within six weeks.

    Concerns Over Selection Process

    The court has also raised questions about the diversity of appointments, observing that selections often come from a narrow category of candidates. It has previously said that information commissions must include individuals of reputation from various fields.

    With the Centre now indicating a December 10 meeting of the selection committee, the Supreme Court has temporarily deferred further hearing on the petitions.

     

    Yugcharan News

    Click here to Read More
    Previous Article
    चक्रवात ‘दित्वाह’ से तबाही: श्रीलंका और तमिलनाडु में भारी विनाश, 334 की मौत, सैकड़ों लापता
    Next Article
    India’s Current Account Deficit Narrows to $12.3 Billion in July–September: RBI

    Related देश Updates:

    Are you sure? You want to delete this comment..! Remove Cancel

    Comments (0)

      Leave a comment