Centre invites applications for CIC appointments

New Delhi, Sep 9: The Centre today invited applications for appointment as Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commisioners in CIC. The term of Chief Information Commissioner Vijai Sharma ends in December. There is a vacancy of three Information Commissioners (ICs) in the transparency watchdog against its strength of ten.

"It is proposed to appoint Chief Information Commissioner and more Information Commissioners in the Commission," an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which acts as nodal authority for implementation of Right to Information Act, said.

The Act provides that the Chief Information Commissioner and ICs shall be person of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass-media and governance, it said.

"There has been a convention of appointing senior-most Information Commissioner in the CIC as its chief. However, government has been seeking nominations of the eligible candidates for the top post in the transparency watchdog to give level-playing field to all," a DoPT official said.

The applications have be sent by October 12. The Chief Information Commissioner and ICs shall hold the office for a term of five years or till attaining the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. The salary and allowances payable to the Chief Information Commissioner and ICs shall be the same as that of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner respectively, the DoPT order said.

PTI