ANJALI BHARDWAJ vs UNION OF INDIA

The Supreme Court, in this Public Interest Litigation under Article 32, emphasized the necessity for timely appointments of Commissioners in the Central Information Commission (CIC) and State Information Commissions (SICs) to ensure effective implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Court noted that delays in filling vacancies lead to significant backlogs of appeals and complaints, undermining the statutory timelines prescribed under Sections 7 and 19 of the RTI Act, which are essential for exercising the fundamental right to information guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution. The Court directed the Central and State Governments to expedite the appointment process to uphold the efficacy of the RTI Act.