Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) & ICs:

Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) & ICs:

  • Context: 

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 10th chaired a meeting to finalise key appointments in the Central Information Commission (CIC). 

  • Apart from choosing the next Chief Information Commissioner, eight Information Commissioners also have to be appointed. 

  • The post of the CIC has been lying vacant since September 2025 when incumbent Heerala Samariya, a dalit demitted office. 

  • The Right to Information Act 2005: 

  • As per the Right to Information Act, 2005, the selection committee comprises: 

  • Prime Minister (Chairperson) 

  • Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha 

  • Union Cabinet Minister nominated by PM. 

  • The Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 amended the original RTI Act of 2005. 

  • The Original Act specified the tenure, terms of service and salaries of the CIC and other IC’s. However, these provisions were removed in the 2019 Amendment Act and stated that the central government will notify the term and quantum of salary through rules. 

  • Subsequently, the government notified the Right to Information Rules, 2019 which significantly altered the tenure and salary structure for Information Commissioners at both Central and State levels.  

  • The Right to Information Rules, 2019 were notified on October 24, 2019. 

  • Key Changes: 2005 Act vs. 2019 Rules: 

Feature 

RTI Act, 2005  

RTI Rules, 2019  

Authority 

Provisions for tenure and salary were defined in the parent law itself. 

The Central Government is empowered to notify the term and salary through rules. 

Tenure 

5 Years for CIC and ICs (both Central and State levels). 

3 Years for CIC and ICs. 

Salary (Central) 

Central CIC: Equivalent to the Chief Election Commissioner (Rs. 2.50 Lakh). Central ICs: Equivalent to Election Commissioners (Rs. 2.50 Lakh). 

Central CIC: Fixed pay of Rs. 2,50,000 per month. Central ICs: Fixed pay of Rs. 2,25,000 per month. 

Salary (State) 

State CIC: Equivalent to Election Commissioners (Rs. 2.50 Lakh). State ICs: Equivalent to the Chief Secretary of the State Government (Rs. 2.25 Lakh). 

State CIC & ICs: Both receive a fixed pay of Rs. 2,25,000 per month. 

  • Implication: 

  • The 2019 Amendment removed the equivalence of the CIC/ICs with the Election Commission officials, placing the determination of their service terms directly under the purview of the Central Government rules.