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New Delhi: In a historic appointment, senior bureaucrat Heeralal Samariya was sworn in as the Chief of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by President Droupadi Murmu, marking a significant milestone as the first Dalit individual to hold this esteemed position. This appointment follows the conclusion of YK Sinha’s term on October 3. Mr. Samariya, renowned for his distinguished career in public service, previously served as the Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The Central Information Commission, responsible for ensuring transparency, is led by the Chief Information Commissioner and can include up to 10 information commissioners.
This appointment stems from a crucial directive issued by the Supreme Court on October 30, compelling both the central and state governments to swiftly fill the vacant positions. The Supreme Court, under the leadership of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, ordered the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to gather comprehensive data from all states concerning the number of authorized information commissioners in State Information Commissions (SICs), current vacancies, and the overall count of pending cases. The Chief Justice emphasized that without these appointments, the effectiveness of the 2005 Right to Information Act would be seriously compromised, stating that it could become a “dead letter.”
In December 2019, the Supreme Court had already instructed both central and state governments to expedite the filling of vacancies for information commissioners at the CIC and SICs within a three-month timeframe. This directive was rooted in the need to establish guidelines aimed at preventing any potential misuse of the Right to Information Act.
Additionally, the relevant authorities were directed to disclose the names of the search committee members responsible for the selection and appointment of information commissioners (ICs) at the CIC on their official websites.
