Government expedites CIC hiring after Delhi High Court nudge

NEW DELHI: After a nudge from the Delhi High Court, the Centre has expedited the process of filling up posts of chief information commissioner and three information commissioners in Central Information Commission (CIC), the transparency watchdog.

In an affidavit filed before the court, which will hear on Monday a writ petition on delay in CIC appointments, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has said a shortlist has been prepared and vigilance clearance process is on.

The search committee, which did not have a single meeting for over two months, met on April 27 following the court’s directive on April 8 to expedite the matter. In its affidavit, DoPT said that the search committee had met in January and February. “The process of appointment of Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission is at an advanced stage. In continuation of earlier meetings held on January 16, 2015 and February 6, 2015, the search committee met on April 27, 2015 and shortlisted the applicants for the posts of Chief Information Commission and Information Commissioners,” it said.

According to the affidavit, the government is in the process of getting vigilance clearance of shortlisted serving officers and Intelligence Bureau inputs for retired officers. DoPT had sent communications for this purpose earlier this month. Even as the government is dragging its feet over the appointment process, the pendency in CIC has been increasing. On August 23, 2014, when Chief Information Commissioner Rajiv Mathur retired, 29,958 cases were pending but the number swelled to 38,549 by May 10 this year.