Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha appointed new Chief Information Commissioner

Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha was appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC). Before the appointment, he has been serving as an Information Commissioner (IC) in the Central Information Commission since January 1, 2019.

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Key-Points

The RTI Act 2005 provides for the constitution of a Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions in each state.

The CIC has been constituted in 2005 under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The jurisdiction of the Commission extends over all Central Public Authorities.

The members shall be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance.

The CIC or IC shall not be an MP or MLA or hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession.

The Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner shall before he enters upon his office make and subscribe before the President or some other person appointed by him in that behalf.

The members of the commission are appointed by a committee consisting of the PM (as Chair), Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister appointed by the PM.

The CIC or an IC may, at any time, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign from his office.

The CIC or an IC may be removed from office only by order of the President on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity after the Supreme Court, on a reference made to it by the President, reports that he/she should be removed on the grounds mentioned.

The President may also remove them from office if such a person is adjudged insolvent, convicted for certain offences etc.