Centre issuing fresh advertisements instead of filling already advertised posts; over 36,000 pending cases before CIC: Application in SC

An application has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking urgent listing of the case regarding filling of vacancies at the Central Information Commission (CIC)..The application filed by activist Anjali Bharadwaj through Advocate Prashant Bhushan states that as on October 15, 2020, the number of appeals/complaints pending before the CIC is more than 36,600, and that there are six vacancies at the Commission..Back in February 2019, in the main petition filed by Bharadwaj, the Supreme Court issued various directions to the Central and state governments to fill vacancies across the Central and State Information Commissions in a transparent and timely manner..Supreme Court calls for transparency in appointment of CIC, ICs.In November 2019, the Court had again asked for a status report from the Centre regarding the vacancies after an intervention application was filed in the court pointing to the delay in filling posts. Thereafter, advertisements were issued to fill the vacant posts. In March, 2020, one new information commissioner was appointed and existing commissioner Bimal Julka was made Chief Information Commissioner. However, four vacancies remained. .After Julka retired in August this year, the vacancies have arose to six with more than 36,000 pending cases. The application states that the case was supposed to be listed in March this year, but is yet to be heard.."It appears the UOI is resorting to issuing fresh advertisements instead of filling all the advertised vacant posts in a bid to cause undue delay in the appointments thereby frustrating peoples' right to information."Application filed in Supreme Court.The application states even at the state level, such appointments are yet to be made. .For Maharashtra, the application states that the State Commission is functioning with only five commissioners and there is a backlog of nearly 60,000 appeals/complaints as of July 31, 2020..Similarly, the Odisha State Information Commission is functioning with four commissioners despite having a large pendency of nearly 15,000 appeals and complaints..In light of these facts, the application prays that the matter be listed before the Court for urgent hearing.