Appoint new information commissioners soon

Central Information Commission already with huge backlog of cases is presently working with just seven Information Commissioners against sanctioned strength of eleven Information Commissioners including Chief Information Commissioner. Even the present Chief Information Commissioner will be retiring soon on 19th December 2010. Union government should take immediate steps for selecting a new Chief Information Commissioner and four other Information Commissioners so that Central Information Commissioner may start functioning with its full strength before end of the year 2010. Since appointing-process requires say of Opposition Leader as well, the process should start without any delay to avoid situations like appointing PJ Thomas as Chief Vigilance Commissioner where government went ahead with its own choice overlooking Opposition Leader?s valid objections on the choice. It should be tried that appointments on such important posts should be with consent of Opposition Leader.

A small but significant modification in appointing Chief Information Commissioner can be of much importance if the post is given to Information Commissioners for one year each by rotation on basis of seniority like is the system being successfully followed at Faculty of Management Studies at Delhi University where senior Professors hold post of Dean by rotation for one year each. System will avoid dissatisfaction amongst exiting Information Commissioners for their being bypassed in their ?claim? to head the Commission. System will also give chance for better innovative ideas from various Information Commissioners getting chance to head the Commission for a year. It will avoid chances of having a ?vacuum? in case of unexpected vacancy at post of Chief Information Commissioner.