Q. With reference to the Central Information Commission, consider the following statements:
1. The salary of the Chief Information Commissioner must be equal to that of the Chief Election Commissioner.
2. It can order suo-moto inquiry into any matter if there are reasonable grounds.
3. It can impose penalty on a public information officer if he refuses to furnish information.
How many statements given above are correct?
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 amended the Right to Information Act, 2005. The 2005 Act provides that the salary of the CIC and ICs (at the central level) will be equivalent to the salary paid to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. But the amended act provides that the salary of both Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioner is to be determined by the Central Government.
Statement 2 is correct. It is the duty of the Commission to receive and inquire into a complaint from any person. However apart from this, it can suo-moto order enquiry into any matter if there are reasonable grounds.
Statement 3 is correct. CIC can impose penalty on PIO (Public information officer) if he refused to furnish information within the specified time. It can also recommend disciplinary action against the errant official.
