Relevance:
Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS) released a report on the performance of Information Commissions (IC) in India, 2021-22.
Key Findings:
- Backlog: Nearly 3.15 lakh complaints or appeals are pending with the ICs.
- Delay in appointment of the ICs by Centre and states.
- Vacancies in ICs: In Jharkhand and Tripura, all posts of ICs including that of the Chief are vacant.
- Time required for disposal of an appeal/complaint: CIC would take 11 months, whereas many SICs may take more than 2 years.
- Reluctant to impose penalties: ICs did not impose penalties on erring officials in 95% of the cases.
- Opaque functioning: 69% of ICs have not published their annual report for 2020-21.
- Sex ratio: Only 5% of the positions being occupied by women.
About Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005:
- It empowers citizens to seek information from public authorities.
- If the information sought is denied then the RTI applicant can file an appeal against the decision of the Public Information Officers (PIOs).
- PIOs are officers designated by the public authorities in all administrative offices under it to provide information under the Act.
- ICs (at centre and state level) are final appellate authority under the RTI.
Reference: The Hindu
