Madhya Pradesh Information Building (symbolic picture)
Digital Desk, Bhopal. The Supreme Court has taken a strict stance on not filling the vacant posts of Information Commissioners on time. After this, the appointment process for three posts in the State Information Commission in Madhya Pradesh has been expedited. A total of 10 posts are sanctioned in the State Information Commission, out of which three posts including the Chief Information Commissioner are filled and seven posts are still vacant. Due to vacant posts, more than 23 thousand appeals are pending in the Commission.
The state government has received 219 applications for three vacant posts. Document verification of these applications has been completed. It is believed that after Makar Sankranti, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav can call a meeting of the committee for the appointment of Information Commissioners. Apart from the Chief Minister, this committee consists of a minister and Leader of Opposition.
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The process of appointment of Information Commissioners had started in the state a year ago, but due to some reasons it had stopped. After the recent instructions of the Supreme Court, the process has again gained momentum. Many posts had become vacant in March 2024. On September 10, 2024, retired Special Director General of Police Vijay Yadav was selected for the post of Chief Information Commissioner. Apart from this, educationist Umashankar Pachauri, social worker Vandana Gandhi and retired judge Omkar Nath were appointed to the post of Information Commissioner.
The Supreme Court had warned in the hearing held in November and December 2025 that if the vacant posts were not filled, the Right to Information Act would become ineffective.
This post is also vacant
Not only the posts of Information Commissioners, but also more than half of the posts of officers and employees in the Commission are vacant. These include 55 posts including Deputy Secretary, Under Secretary, Private Secretary, Law Officer, SDO, Personal Assistant, Computer Operator, Programmer, Clerk and Steno Typist. Due to vacant posts, hearings are not being held on time and the proceedings of the 21 year old Right to Information Act are being affected.