Centre accelerates process of filing up the post of Chief Information Officer after nudge from Delhi High Court

By NewsGram Staff Writer

The Centre, after being jabbed by the Delhi High Court, has accelerated the process of filing up the posts of chief information officer and three information commissioners at Central Information Centre (CIC).

CIC which was established as country's chief transparency monitoring institute has been headless since Rajiv Mathur, the last Chief Information Commissioner retired. Several other posts have also been also lying vacant at the institute.

Last month a petition was filed in Delhi High Court questioning delay in the appointment of the chief information commissioner.

An affidavit has been submitted in the court, as a response to the petition, which states that the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) has prepared a list of short-listed candidates for the post and the process of getting vigilance clearance is going on for the same, reported The Economic Times.

According to the affidavit, "The process of appointment of Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission is at an advanced stage. In continuation of earlier meetings held on January 16, 2015 and February 6, 2015, the search committee met on April 27, 2015 and shortlisted the applicants for the posts of Chief Information Commission and Information Commissioners."