Women head only 5% of Information Commissions: report

• A report compiled by the ‘Satark Nagrik Sangathan’ (SNS) highlighted a lack of diversity in the leadership of Information Commissions, particularly the minimal representation of women.

Gender Disparity

• Since the passage of the Right to Information Act in 2005, merely 9% of all information commissioners across the country have been women.
• Only 5% of Information Commissions have been headed by women.
• Currently, no Information Commission is led by a woman.
• 12 Information Commissions, constituting around 41%, have never had a woman commissioner since their establishment.

Composition Overview

• Of the approximately 465 commissioners for whom background information was available
  • The majority, 58%, were retired government officials.
  • Lawyers or former judges accounted for 14%, including 11% advocates or from the judicial service and 3% retired judges.
  • 11% had a background in journalism
  • 5% were academics, and 4% were social activists or workers.

Performance Issues

• Several Information Commissions are observed to return a significant number of cases without issuing any orders.
• Many commissions exhibit a notably low rate of case disposal per commissioner.
• The report also emphasizes the issue of delays in making timely appointments to Information Commissions.

Prelims Takeaway

• Right to Information
• Information Commissions