Heeralal Samariya is Chief Information Commissioner
- Heeralal Samariya has been selected as the Chief Information Commissioner.
- He was sworn in as an Information Commissioner in the Central Information Commission on November 7, 2020.
Background before Appointment
- The post of the CIC had been lying vacant since October 3, 2023
- Y. K. Sinha retired as the last CIC at that time.
- On October 30, 2023 the Supreme Court had asked both the Central and the State governments to take steps to fill the top post in the CIC
- The court observed that failing this appointment the Right to Information Act, brought in 2005, would become a “dead letter”.
Personnel in the Office of the Chief Information Commission of India
- After taking his oath, Mr. Samariya administered the oath of office to two Information Commissioners
- Anandi Ramalingam
- Vinod Kumar Tiwari
- After these appointments, there are now six vacancies in the CIC.
About Central Information Commission
- The office of CIC was established by the Central Government in 2005.
- The CIC was created under the provisions of the Right to Information Act (2005).
- It is not a constitutional body but a statutory body.
- It consists of a Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and not more than ten Information Commissioners (IC).
- They are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee.
- The committee consists of
- The Prime Minister as Chairperson
- The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- A Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
- The jurisdiction of the Commission extends over all Central Public Authorities.
- The Chief Information Commissioner and an Information Commissioner shall hold office for such term
- As prescribed by the Central Government or
- Until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
- They are not eligible for reappointment.
Prelims Takeaway
- The Right to Information Act
- Chief Information Commission