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{{Short description|Statutory body in Uttar Pradesh, India}}
{{Infobox high court
| court_name = Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission
|| native_name =
| established = 2 March 2006
| location = 7/7A, RTI Bhawan, Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.<ref name="upic ref1">{{cite web |title=Uttar Pradesh Information Commission |url=https://upic.gov.in/StaticPages/ContactDetails.aspx |website=Uttar Pradesh Information Commission |access-date=26 January 2022 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927232452/http://upic.gov.in/StaticPages/ContactDetails.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| website = {{url|https://upic.gov.in/}}
| motto = सूचना जनाधिकार:॥ ''(Soochna Janadhikaraha) Information is the right of the people.'' ([[Sanskrit]])
| authority = [[Right to Information Act, 2005]]
| chiefjudgetitle = State Chief Information Commissioner
| chiefjudgename = Rajkumar Vishwakarma
| chiefjudgetitle2 =
| chiefjudgename2 =
}}

'''Uttar Pradesh Information Commission''' is an [[Autonomy|autonomous]] and [[Statute|statutory]] body constituted as per [[Right to Information Act, 2005|The Right to Information Act, 2005]] by the state government of [[Uttar Pradesh]] through a notification in [[Government gazette|official Gazette]]. The commission will have one State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and not more than 10 State Information Commissioners (IC) to be appointed by the [[Governor (India)|Governor]] on the recommendation of the committee consisting of the [[Chief minister (India)|Chief Minister]] as Chairperson, the [[Leader of the Opposition]] in the [[Legislative assembly|Legislative Assembly]] and a state [[Minister (government)|Cabinet Minister]] nominated by the Chief Minister.

== History and objective ==

Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission has to be constituted as per The Right to Information Act, 2005 by the State Governments in India through a notification in official Gazette.<ref name="sic ref1">{{cite news |title=State Information Commission: Composition, Power and Functions |url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/state-information-commission-1438319829-1 |access-date=15 January 2022 |publisher=jagranjosh.com |date=30 March 2019}}</ref>

Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission is formed to take up the following:<ref name="sic ref12">{{cite news |title=The decline of India's right to information regime, in four charts |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/the-decline-of-india-s-right-to-information-regime-in-four-charts-11604385637705.html |access-date=16 January 2022 |publisher=livemint |date=4 November 2020}}</ref>

* Appeals on the information shared by various government entities under the Right to Information Act.<ref name="upic ref3">{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Abhishek |title=Uttar Pradesh private schools to fall under RTI purview |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/uttar-pradesh-private-schools-to-fall-under-rti-purview-1828896-2021-07-16 |access-date=26 January 2022 |publisher=India Today |date=16 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
* Complaints on refusal to give information or in relation to inability to file Right to Information Act.<ref name="upic ref4">{{cite news |title=Private schools in Uttar Pradesh under purview of Right to Information Act |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/private-schools-in-uttar-pradesh-under-purview-of-right-to-information-act |access-date=26 January 2022 |publisher=Free Press Journal |date=14 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="upic ref5">{{cite news |last1=Mehrotra |first1=Vani |title=All private schools in Uttar Pradesh now under RTI purview |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/education/news-uttar-pradesh-private-schools-under-rti-purview-719444 |access-date=26 January 2022 |publisher=indiatvnews.com |date=15 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
* Commission should get annual report from various departments working in the state about complaints received under Right to Information Act, 2005 and their responses on the same.<ref name="upic ref2">{{cite news |title=Not a Single RTI Report From Uttar Pradesh Since Law Came into Force in 2005: Study |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/not-a-single-rti-report-from-uttar-pradesh-since-law-came-into-force-in-2005-report-2342845.html |access-date=26 January 2022 |publisher=News18 |date=12 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

Uttar Pradesh Information Commission occasionally conducts awareness programmes on implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 effectively by general public.

== Composition ==

Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission members should consist of a:<ref name="sic ref3">{{cite news |last1=M |first1=Parita |title=State Information Commission |url=http://kanoon.nearlaw.com/2017/12/22/state-information-commission/ |access-date=16 January 2022 |publisher=kanoon.nearlaw.com |archive-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116012610/http://kanoon.nearlaw.com/2017/12/22/state-information-commission/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

1. State Chief Information commissioner and

2. Not more than ten State Information Commissioners.

The Chief and other members of State Information Commission are appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the committee consisting of the Chief Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and a state Cabinet Minister.

The members of State Information Commission should be of eminence in public life<ref name="sic ref7" /> and are not permitted to hold any other [[office of profit]] or any position which is connected with any political party and are also barred from carrying on any business or continuing any profession in any field.

== Tenure and service ==

The tenure of the Uttar Pradesh State Chief Information Commissioner and a State Information Commissioner for holding office will be a term of 3 years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier and will not be eligible for reappointment on completion of tenure<ref name="sic ref2">{{cite news |title=Information Commissioners' Tenures, Salaries Now Firmly in Centre's Hands |url=https://thewire.in/government/centre-rti-act-information-commissioners-tenure-salary-retirement-benefits |access-date=16 January 2022 |publisher=The Wire |date=25 October 2019}}</ref>.Any vacancy in the State Information Commission has to be filled within six months from the date of vacancy.<ref name="sic ref7">{{cite news |title=SC Asks States for Updates on Vacancies, Pendency in Information Commissions |url=https://thewire.in/government/sc-orders-state-to-file-status-reports-on-information-commissions |access-date=16 January 2022 |publisher=The Wire |date=19 August 2021}}</ref>

Uttar Pradesh Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), Information Commissioner (IC) and State Information Commissioner's salaries, allowances and other service terms and conditions are equivalent to a Judge of the Supreme Court.<ref name="sic ref10">{{cite news |title=RTI Bill 2019: Undermining autonomy of information commissions and transparency in governance |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rti-bill-2019-undermining-autonomy-of-information-commissions-and-transparency-in-governance-1571439-2019-07-19 |access-date=16 January 2022 |publisher=indiatoday.in |date=19 July 2019}}</ref>

== Powers and functions ==

Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission prepares report on the implementation of the provisions of State Information Commission act and submits an annual report to the state government which is placed by the later before the state legislature.<ref name="sic ref14">{{cite news |title=How the Right to Information Act is being steadily scuttled |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/how-the-right-to-information-act-is-being-steadily-scuttled-1868754-2021-10-24 |access-date=19 January 2022 |publisher=indiatoday.in |date=24 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="sic ref9">{{cite news |title=Over 2.5 Lakh RTI Appeals, Plaints Pending with 26 Information Commissions across India |url=https://www.moneylife.in/article/over-25-lakh-rti-appeals-plaints-pending-with-26-information-commissions-across-india/65422.html |access-date=16 January 2022 |publisher=moneylife.in |date=21 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="sic ref1" /><ref name="sic ref13">{{cite news |title=Chhattisgarh Only State To File Annual Reports Under RTI Act |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-only-state-to-file-annual-reports-under-rti-act-uttar-pradesh-does-none-2115539 |access-date=18 January 2022 |publisher=ndtv.com |date=12 October 2019}}</ref>

The commission on reasonable grounds can order inquiry into any matter related to the Act.

The commission under powers granted to it can secure from the public authorities compliance of any of its decisions.

Commission is duty bound to receive and conduct enquiry into any complaint received from any person.
The commission can call for and examine any record which it considers necessary and is under the possession of the public authority and any such record should not be withheld from it on any grounds during the inquiry of a complaint.

The commission has the power of the civil court during the course of enquiry and in respect of the following matters:

Any complaint which requires the discovery and inspection of documents relating to it.

Powers exercised for issuing summons requiring examination of any witnesses or related documents or any other prescribed matters relating to complaint.

Any provision under which summons were issued and as per which attendance is required of persons and requires them to give written or oral evidence under an oath and producing documents or other details relevant to it.

Provision requiring evidence on stamped [[affidavit]].

Powers relating to request from any court or office of any public record.

Commission under the powers can recommend steps which can be taken for confirming to the provisions of the act if any public authority fails to do so.

== Challenges ==

Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission are overburdened with backlog cases, similar to [[Central Vigilance Commission]].<ref name="sic ref8">{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Soni |title=Central Information Commission headless for 5th time in 6 years |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/08/27/central-information-commission-headless-for-5th-time-in-6-years.html |access-date=16 January 2022 |publisher=the week |date=27 August 2020}}</ref> Due to shortage of available staff and vacancies not being filled, there is backlog of cases filed.<ref name="sic ref4">{{cite news |last1=sharma |first1=nidhi |title=Info commissions have a waiting time of over one year for an applicant seeking information under RTI Act: Report |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/info-commissions-have-a-waiting-time-of-over-one-year-for-an-applicant-seeking-information-under-rti-act-report/articleshow/86946016.cms?from=mdr |access-date=16 January 2022 |publisher=economictimes |date=11 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="sic ref5">{{cite news |title=Over 32,000 RTI appeals pending with Central Information Commission: Govt. |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/over-32000-rti-appeals-pending-with-central-information-commission-govt/article37969462.ece |access-date=16 January 2022 |publisher=thehindu.com |date=16 December 2021}}</ref> The maximum number of appeals and complaints pending as per October 2014 records were in state of Uttar Pradesh. However, some states like Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura didn't have pending complaints.<ref name="sic ref6">{{cite news |title=21 of 29 state information commissions did not hold any RTI hearings during lockdown |url=https://theprint.in/india/21-of-29-state-information-commissions-did-not-hold-any-rti-hearings-during-lockdown/426103/ |access-date=16 January 2022 |publisher=The Print |date=21 May 2020}}</ref> State Information Commission as per the provision has limited to provide information and cannot take any action.

In spite of above limitation, Uttar Pradesh State Information Commissions plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency in public life and supports in greater way in checking corruption, combating oppression, preventing [[nepotism]] and misuse of the public authority.

A survey conducted by [[Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative]], showed that most State Information Commission in India were inactive during Covid pandemic.<ref name="sic ref11">{{cite news |title=State information commissions inactive during COVID-19: Survey |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/governance/state-information-commissions-inactive-during-covid-19-survey-70736 |access-date=16 January 2022 |publisher=downtoearth |date=28 April 2020}}</ref>

== Related Articles ==

[[Central Information Commission]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://upic.gov.in/ Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028015404/http://upic.gov.in/ |date=2020-10-28 }}
* [https://www.filertionline.in/rti/rti-complaint-in-uttar-pradesh RTI Link]



[[Category:Indian commissions and inquiries]]
[[Category:Anti-corruption measures in India]]
[[Category:Anti-corruption agencies]]

Uttar Pradesh Information Commission - Revision history

MargretGerken: starting basic info basic info