CIC disposed of more cases in 2015-16 compared to 2014-15: Government

NEW DELHI: Working full strength, the Central Information Commission has disposed of more cases in 2015-16 as compared to 2014-15, Lok Sabha was informed today.

As per information furnished by the CIC, the number of appeals and complaints disposed of by the commission in 2015-16 is 28,188 as against 20,181 in 2014-15, indicating an improved performance over the previous year, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Jitendra Singh said in a written reply.

"The post of Chief Information Commissioner in the CIC fell vacant on August 23, 2014 and Vijai Sharma was appointed the CIC on June 10, 2015. Thereafter, the post of CIC fell vacant on December 2, 2015. R K Mathur, current CIC, has taken over the charge with effect from January 4, 2016," he said.

Singh said with the appointment of three new Information Commissioners on February 25, 2016, the CIC, at present, is working full strength -- one Chief Information Commissioner and 10 information commissioners.

In a separate reply, Singh said as per CIC's annual report, a total of 7,55,247 RTI applications were received by reporting public authorities in 2014-15 as against 8,34,183 in 2013-14, registering a decline of 78,936 applications.

The data regarding expenditure incurred by various ministries/departments of the government on the dissemination of information to the applicants under the Right to Information is not collected and maintained centrally, he said.