24K complaints and appeals pending with CIC

By Vijay Kumar

"THE CIC has informed pendency of around 24,800 appeals or complaints as on November 30, 2013. The transparency watchdog does not maintain ministry or department-wise pendency of appeals or complaints." Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy told Lok Sabha in a written reply yesterday.

The Central Information Commission includes One Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and not more than 10 Information Commissioners (IC) who will be appointed by the President of India.

As per the CIC Press Release dated 22/11/2013, with the induction of five new Information Commissioners, the total number of Information Commissioners including the Chief Information Commissioner has gone up to 10 in the Central Information Commission.

The CIC Annual Report 2011-2012 gives the following information regarding the number of appeals/complaints received and disposed of by individual ICs and CIC during 2008-09 to 2011-12 -

"It has caught the imagination of the people to the extent that it has found its way into the daily conversation of people. It is not uncommon to hear people say ‘I will RTI if so-and-so is not done.' It has become a verb. It is often said that in many cases, an RTI-application alone is enough to motivate and compel the authorities to redress the grievances. The common citizen, who was earlier deterred by the culture of secrecy and intimidated by the mystique of governance, has for the first time got an instrument to question the system and enter its hallowed portals; thereby initiating the much desired process of deepening of participatory democracy. The Public Authorities too on their part have responded positively having realized the vast transformational potential of the Act in charting the road map of good governance." - Extract from the Annual Report.

Perhaps this is the reason that the pendency has increased and it is time that the strength of the CIC is doubled.