In Brief
This case addressed systemic delays in filling vacancies in Information Commissions across India, which were hampering the effective implementation of the Right to Information Act. The Supreme Court held that the Central and State Governments are constitutionally obligated to fill such vacancies promptly, as Information Commissions are vital to ensuring citizens' fundamental right to access government information. The Court mandated transparency in the appointment process, requiring public disclosure of selection criteria and committee composition. It also directed that appointments should include persons of eminence from diverse professional backgrounds—not just government employees—and that adequate strength of commissioners be maintained based on workload and case pendency. State-specific timelines and strength recommendations were issued to improve service delivery.
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