State Information Commision

Question 1

How it was created and what is it’s mandate?

Answer 1

Created:RTI Act 2005.

It looks into complaints made to it related to offices,fianancial institutions,PSU etc.under state government.

Question 2

Give composition and appointment details of State Information Commision.

Answer 2

1 Chief Information Commisioner.
Not more than 10 state information commisioners.

Appointment:
By->Governor (recommended by CM+Leader of opposition+State cabinet minister

Members should be:person of eminence in public life with knowledge & experience in law,science,social service,management,journalism etc

Members shouldn’t be:MP,MLA,Should not be holding any other office of profit,business,political ties

Question 3

What is the term of State Information Commision?

Answer 3

-Should hold office as prescribed by government or age 65(whichever is earlier)

Question 4

On what basis the members of the Commision can be removed?

Answer 4

Removed by Governor(Not President)

1. Insolvent
2. Engaged in paid employement
3. unfit to continue
4. unsound mind
5. imprisonment

In addition Governor can remove on proved misbehavior->that case->matter goes to SC->IF APPROVED->REMOVE

Question 5

Who decides salary,allowances?

Answer 5

Central Government decides it,can’t be variedto its disadvantage.

Question 6

What are the powers & functions of state information Commision?

Answer 6

1. Receive & inquire complaint from any person
   a) who was unable to submit info.request due unavailable public info. oficer(PIO)
   b) who is refused info.
   c) not recieved info. in specified time
   d) thinks charged fees is unreasonable
   e) thinks info. is incomplete,misleading or false
   f) other matter relating to obtaining info.

2.Can order inquiry in any matter(Suo-moto power)

3. has powers of civil court in respect of following
   a) summon & enforce attendance;compelling them to give evidence;produce documents or things
   b) requiring discovery & inspection of documents
   c) receiving evidence on affidavit
   d) requisitioning (an official order laying claim to the use of property or materials) any public record from any court or office.
   e) issuing summons for examination of witnesses or documents
   f) any other matter

4.All public records must be given to commision during inquiry for examination.

5. Commision has power to secure compliance of its decisions from public authorities.It includes
   a) providing info.
   b) directing authority to appoint PIO(Public Information Officer)
   c) publishing info.
   d) changing practices related to management,maintenance & destruction of records
   e) enhancing training provision for officials on right to information
   f) seeking annual report from public authority
   g) making public authority to compensate for any loss or other detriment suffered by applicant.
   h) imposing penalties under this act
   i) rejecting application
6. commision submits annual report to state government on implementation of provisions of this act.
7. if public authority does not conform to provisions of this act,commision may recommend (to the authority) steps which ought to be taken for promoting such a confirmity.

Question 7

Enlist the changes that took place due to RTI Amendment Act,2019.

Answer 7

1.Changed office term (For centre & state Information Commision)
To->Central govn. decided
From->5 Years

2.salary allowances

FROM:
For CIC (Were same as Chief election Commisioner)

for Information Commisioner (Were same as election commisioner)

For State CIC (Were same as Election commisioner)

For state information commisioner (were same as chief secretary of state government)

TO:
As prescribed by the central government.(For all)

3.Removed the provisions regarding deductions in salary for all 4 posts due to pension or other retirement benefit received by them for their previous government service.