NEW DELHI, Dec 5:
Over 27,000 cases under Right to Information Act are pending for hearing before the Central Information Commission even as each commissioner, on an average, is disposing over 2,800 cases each year, Lok Sabha was informed today.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Greivances and Pensions V Narayanasamy said increase in pendency is due to manifold increase in number of RTI applications before Central Public Authorities between 2006-07 to 2009-10 and consequent increase in number of appeals/complaints filed with the Commission.
The Minister said retirement of three information commissioners since September 2010 also contributed to increase in pending cases.
“The pendency has also increased due to considerable higher number of appeals/complaints being filed to the Central Information Commission despite the fact that disposal of appeals/complaints by an information Commissioner,” he said.
According to data provided by the Minister, during 2008-09 to 2010-11, the Commissioners were disposing over 83 per cent cases while this year the figure was over 68 per cent with 2890 cases being disposed on an average by each commissioner.
The average disposal of cases has been 2165, 2675 and 2890 cases during 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively.
There are eight Commissioners including Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra at the CIC.
“The Government has 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 resulting in less number of appeals to the Commission. The Commission on its part launched special drive to clear the pendency of appeals/complaints,” he said.
Narayanasamy said three more information commissioners have been appointed with effect from March 1, 2012 and further it has been decided in consultation with Chief Information Commissioner that Central Information Commission should be granted autonomy in recruitment of staff.
“Out of 14 categories of post, recuirtment rules have been notified for 11 categories comprising 130 employees. Recruitment rules for rest of three categories of posts namely Registrar, Hindi translator and librarian constituting four posts are under finalisation,” he said.
On the question of alleged misuse of the RTI Act, the Minister said the RTI Act does not require any reason or locus standi to be proved while seeking information.
“Therefore, access to information is not a misuse and any misuse subequently would attract penal provisions under relevant legislations,” he said.
In response to a separate question, the Minister said since 2007-08, the Commission has imposed penalty of Rs 1.60 crore in 853 cases for non-supply of information as on November 20, 2012 of which an amount of Rs 97.6 lakh has been recovered. (PTI)
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