Not Just Babus, Says SC: Non-Bureaucrats For Information Commissioner Posts At Centre, State

The Supreme Court on Friday (15 February) asked the government to make sure that non-bureaucrats are also posted as Information Commissioners in the Central and state information commissions, reports The Tribune.

The central government was also asked to ensure that the vacancies were filled timely and with transparency.

“Information Commissioners should also be appointed from other streams, as per the (Right to Information) Act, and the selection is not limited to government employee or ex-employee,” a Bench was quoted saying by the Tribune.

A PIL was filed by activist Anjali Bhardwaj, who said it would go a long way in ensuring that people get necessary information in time.

The terms and conditions for the appointment of CIC and Information Commissioners should be the same as applicable to Chief Election Commissioner or Election Commissioners.

The report stated that the terms and conditions must be put on the website, and the criteria for shortlisting the candidates should be made public for transparency.