Central Information Commission is already having a huge backlog of cases and it is presently working with just seven Information Commissioners against sanctioned strength of eleven Information Commissioners.

 

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 the opinion of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha 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.

 
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. This system will allow all the information commisioners to gain experience as well as reduce the competition among them.