Which of the following cannot be appointed as the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — D, Member of the Legislature of the State territory. Under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, the State Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioners must be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in fields such as law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media, or administration and governance. The same section expressly disqualifies anyone who is a Member of Parliament or of the Legislature of any State or Union Territory, holds any other office of profit, is connected with a political party, or carries on any business or profession — to keep the post free of active-politics and conflict-of-interest ties.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Journalism/mass media is explicitly listed among the eligible fields of eminence under Section 15 — not a disqualification.  (b) Law is explicitly listed among the eligible fields under Section 15 — not a disqualification.  (c) Science and technology is explicitly listed among the eligible fields under Section 15 — not a disqualification.

Concept: The RTI Act, 2005 (Section 15) sets a two-part test for each state's Information Commission: POSITIVE eligibility (eminence in public life, with knowledge/experience in law, science & technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media, or administration & governance) and a NEGATIVE disqualification list (must not be a sitting MP/MLA/MLC, hold any other office of profit, be connected with a political party, or run a business/profession) — the second part keeps the office insulated from active politics.

State PCS 2022 Q29 — Indian Polity PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2022 Q29 — Indian Polity PYQ with Answer