Headless CIC to skip annual open convention

The open-for-all CIC annual meet to discuss issues pertaining to RTI regime in the country will be a closed-door affair for commissioners only this year as there is no Chief Information Commission to take administrative decisions of this nature.
With RTI Act entering 10th anniversary, the annual convention would have been an ideal forum to take stock of evolution of the transparency law and decide way forward, RTI activists feel.
The nodal body for monitoring proper implementation of Right to Information Act, the CIC annual conventions were addressed by the President, the Prime Minister and various ministers with active participation from activists and public.

It was seen as an annual gathering where general public, activists and policy makers huddled together under the umbrella of the Central Information Commission to discuss wide ranging issues related to the implementation of the Act which was a result of long drawn movement of people.
Sources in the CIC said administrative decisions of this nature can only be taken by the Chief Information Commissioner which has not been appointed by the new government.
The Commission, which is a headless body after retirement of last Chief Information Commissioner Rajiv Mathur, has decided to skip the convention.
Some sources also said that there was no confirmation from the PMO of Prime Minister's presence at the convention.

In its meeting on September 23, the Commission had decided to limit the annual event to a "closed-door" brain storming session among former and sitting Commissioners.