9 months ago
SC Hears Pleas on Filling CIC, SIC Vacancies
The Supreme Court of India is going to hear some requests about filling empty jobs in the Central Information Commission (CIC) and State Information Commissions (SICs).
These jobs are important because they help people get information from the government.
Right now, there are many empty jobs, especially in the CIC, where 8 out of 10 jobs are not filled.
This means there are a lot of cases waiting to be solved.
The court has asked the government to fill these jobs quickly.
Some states like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have filled their jobs, but others like Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand still have many empty positions.
The court is also concerned that only people from certain backgrounds, like bureaucrats, are being chosen for these jobs.
They want a variety of people to be considered.
The Prime Minister's panel is scheduled to meet on December 10 to select new information commissioners.
The Supreme Court will hear pleas on filling vacancies in the CIC and SICs.
Eight out of ten posts of information commissioners in the CIC are currently vacant.
The backlog of cases in the CIC is nearly 30,000 due to the vacancies.
States like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Karnataka have filled their vacancies, while others like Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand have pending vacancies.
The Prime Minister-led panel is scheduled to meet on December 10 to select and recommend names for the post of Chief Information Commissioner and information commissioners.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India, Activist Anjali Bhardwaj, Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, Advocate Prashant Bhushan
- What
- Hearing on pleas for filling vacancies in Central Information Commission (CIC) and State Information Commissions (SICs)
- Where
- Supreme Court of India, New Delhi
- When
- Monday, November 27, 2023
- Why
- To address the rising pendency of cases and ensure the functioning of information commissions
Key facts
- Date of Hearing
- Monday, November 27, 2023
- Bench
- Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi
- Petitioners
- Activist Anjali Bhardwaj and others
- Vacant Posts in CIC
- 8 out of 10
- Backlog of Cases in CIC
- Nearly 30,000
- States with Filled Vacancies
- Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka
- States with Pending Vacancies
- Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Telangana
- Selection Committee Meeting
- December 10, 2023
Quotes
Prashant Bhushan
Advocate representing petitioners including Anjali Bhardwaj
“The government has not filled the vacant posts, which is resulting in piling of cases before the commissions.”
rediff.com
“Some states have made two to three appointments and are saying they don't need to fill all the posts as they have sufficient strength of members to deal with the pendency of cases.”
rediff.com
