Central Information Commission (CIC)
Institutional Health and Vacancies
The Central Information Commission (CIC), established under Section 12 of the RTI Act, is the apex appellate body for RTI disputes at the Central Government level. It comprises the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and up to 10 Information Commissioners, appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a committee comprising the Prime Minister (Chairperson), Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM. Vacancies in the CIC delay second appeals and complaints, creating a pendency crisis that functionally denies citizens their RTI rights.
- CIC legal basis: Section 12, RTI Act, 2005.
- Appointment committee: Prime Minister (Chair), Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Union Cabinet Minister nominated by PM (Section 12(3)).
- RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019: Changed the tenure of Information Commissioners — previously fixed at 5 years; now "such term as the Central Government may prescribe" — giving the Centre more control over tenure, raising independence concerns.
- Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. CIC (2013): SC held service records and property details of officials are ordinarily private but disclosure can be ordered when accountability demands it — the balance the DPDP amendment has now upset.
- 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (2nd ARC, 2005-09, chaired by Veerappa Moily): Recommended strengthening CIC with enforcement powers and suo motu disclosure mandates.
- Growing pendency: Thousands of second appeals pending at CIC due to unfilled vacancies — effectively making the RTI right unenforceable in practice.
● Tracked since February 28, 2026 · last seen May 05, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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