GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL

, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 4972

ANSWERED ON:13.08.2014

CASES PENDING WITH CIC

ANANT KUMAR DATTATREYA HEGDE

(a) whether a large number of cases are lying pending with the Central Information Commission (CIC) as reported in the media;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the number of commissioners have been increased in the CIC in comparison to the year 2011;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the average number of cases decided by them annually; and

(e) whether such number of pending cases are likely to affect the administrative system adversely and if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken by the Government for efficient disposal of pending cases in CIC and SICs?

Will the Minister of PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONSbe pleased to state:-

 Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and

Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH) 

(a) & (b): As on 30.07.2014, the total number of RTI applications pending in the Central Information Commission is 174. Besides this, as on 31.07.2014, 27335 appeals and complaints are pending in the Commission. State-wise data is not centrally maintained.

(c) & (d): During the year 2011 there were five Information Commissioners (IC) apart from one Chief Information Commissioner in the Central Information Commission(CIC). At present, there are Seven Information Commissioners apart from one Chief Information Commissioner.

The average annual disposal by the ICs/CIC in the Central Information Commission during the last three years is as under:

Year Average Annual Disposal by individual ICs/CIC

2010-11 2675

2011-12 3852

2012-13 2889

(e): The Central Information Commission has been granted autonomy in recruitment of staff. Recruitment Rules (RRs) have been notified for all the 14 categories of posts in the Central Information Commission. The Commission is in the process of making appointment to the various posts. In addition to the above, Government has appointed five more Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission w.e.f. 22nd November, 2013. The Government has also taken several steps like issue of guidelines for the Central Public Information Officers and First Appellate Authorities enabling them to supply information/dispose of first appeal effectively.