In Brief
This landmark judgment addresses systemic delays in filling vacancies in Information Commissions under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The petitioners challenged the Central and State Governments' failure to appoint Information Commissioners on time, resulting in massive backlogs of pending appeals and complaints. The Supreme Court held that timely appointment of Information Commissioners is essential to implement the right to information, a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a). The Court directed all governments to fill vacancies within specified timelines, ensure transparency in selection processes by disclosing search committee details and selection criteria on websites, and appoint commissioners from diverse professional backgrounds beyond government service. The petition was partly allowed with binding directions on appointment procedures and timeframes.
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