Present Chief Central Information Commissioner Sudhir Bhargav is going to retire on 11.01.2020. But still there is no clarity on new Chief Central Information Commissioner. It may be recalled that once this important post remained vacant for months before Vijay Sharma was appointed on the post.
System may be formulated whereby normally senior-most Information Commissioner may be appointed as Chief Information Commissioner. Such a system will not only ensure the important post being always occupied, but will also auto-care for the peculiar situation developed due to recent amendment in RTI Act whereby service-rules for Information Commissioners are downgraded. No present Information Commissioner will like to apply for post of Chief Information Commissioner under new rules because of downgraded service-rules including post-retirement benefits. Any new person other than present Information Commissioners then will lead Information Commissions with service-conditions inferior to those of present Information Commissioners thus leading to an uncomfortable and embarrassing position. Otherwise also, it is always better to appoint a person as Chief Information Commissioner who has already gained sufficient experience as Information Commissioner.
Or else, Central government should make it clear that existing Information Commissioner if applying for post of Chief Information Commissioner in future will continue to enjoy service-conditions as they had been enjoying as Information Commissioners in case they are selected as Chief Information Commissioner.
SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL