Govt to fill vacant posts of information commissioners in CIC

Government has sought applications from eligible candidates to fill vacant posts of Information Commissioners in Central Information Commission (CIC).
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which acts as a nodal department for implementation of Right to Information Act and CIC, has sought applications from eligible individuals.
"It is proposed to appoint more Information Commissioners in the Commission. The (RTI) Act provides that the Information Commissioners shall be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass-media or administration and governance," the DoPT said in an office memorandum.

Further, the Information Commissioner shall not be Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any state or Union Territory, as the case may be, or hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession.
"It is clarified that cessation/termination of holding of office of profit, pursuing any profession or carrying any business is a condition precedent to the appointment of a person as Information Commissioner," the missive said.
An Information Commissioner shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office or till he attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

As per the transparency Act, the Commission shall have a Chief Information Commissioner and up to ten Information Commissioners. At present, there are seven information commissioners.
The desired candidates, fulfilling the criteria, may apply to the post before June 28, it said.