Brief Context
Context The President of India administered the oath of office to Raj Kumar Goyal as the Chief Information Commissioner of the Central Information Commission. About Central Information Commission The Central Information Commission (CIC) is a statutory body in India, established under the provisions of the Right to Information Act (2005). The Central Information Commission consists of a Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and not more than ten Information Commissioners (IC).
Source Content
Syllabus: GS2/ Polity and Governance; Statutory Body
Context
- The President of India administered the oath of office to Raj Kumar Goyal as the Chief Information Commissioner of the Central Information Commission.
About Central Information Commission
- The Central Information Commission (CIC) is a statutory body in India, established under the provisions of the Right to Information Act (2005).
- The Central Information Commission consists of a Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and not more than ten Information Commissioners (IC).
- The members are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a Committee consisting of:
- The Prime Minister as the Chairperson,
- The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and
- A Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
- Term of office: The Chief Information Commissioner, or Information Commissioners, as the case may be, shall hold office for a period of three years from the date on which he enters upon his office.
- Jurisdiction: It extends over all Central Public Authorities.
Eligibility Criteria
- Section 12(5) of the RTI Act 2005 provides that the CIC and IC 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.
- Shall not be a 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.
Powers and Functions
- While inquiring, the Commission has the powers of a civil court in respect of the following matters:
- Summoning and enforcing attendance of persons and compelling them to give oral or written evidence on oath and to produce documents or things;
- Requiring the discovery and inspection of documents;
- Receiving evidence on affidavit;
- Requisitioning any public record from any court or office;
- Issuing summons for examination of witnesses or documents; and
- Any other matter which may be prescribed.
- During the inquiry of a complaint, the Commission may examine any record which is under the control of the public authority and no such record may be withheld from it on any grounds.
- The decisions of the Commission are final and binding.
Source: PIB