GayleTibbs8 at 00:10, 16 October 2025

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{{Short description|Statutory body in Assam, India}}{{Infobox high court
| court_name = Assam State Information Commission|
| native_name =
| established = 2 March 2006
| jurisdiction = [[Assam]]
| location = Jonakee Complex, Shilpgram Road, Panjabari, Guwahati-37.<ref name="asi ref1">{{cite web |title=Assam Information Commission |url=http://www.sicassam.in/contactus.html |website=Assam Information Commission |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-date=18 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182757/http://www.sicassam.in/contactus.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| appealsto =
| terms = 3 years from the date of entering office or up to 65 years of age (whichever is earlier)
| website = http://www.sicassam.in/
| motto = {{langx|sa|सूचना जनाधिकार:॥}} ''({{transliteration|sa|Soochna Janadhikaraha}}) {{translation}} Information is the right of the people.''
| authority = [[Right to Information Act, 2005]]
| chiefjudgetitle = State Chief Information Commissioner
| chiefjudgename = Sri Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, IPS(Retd), Former DGP, Assam Police
| chiefjudgetitle2 =
| chiefjudgename2 =
}}

'''Assam Information Commission''' is an [[Autonomy|autonomous]] and [[Statute|statutory]] body constituted by the state government of [[Assam]] through a notification in [[Government gazette|official Gazette]].

== History and objective ==

Assam 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 |archive-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116012207/https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/state-information-commission-1438319829-1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Assam 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 |archive-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116024430/https://www.livemint.com/news/india/the-decline-of-india-s-right-to-information-regime-in-four-charts-11604385637705.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

* Appeals on the information shared by various government entities under the Right to Information Act.
* Complaints on refusal to give information or in relation to inability to file Right to Information Act.<ref name="asi ref2">{{cite news |title=eastmojo |url=https://www.eastmojo.com/assam/2021/12/21/assam-information-commission-for-action-on-depts-failing-to-submit-reports/ |access-date=17 January 2022 |publisher=eastmojo.com |date=21 December 2021 |archive-date=18 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118030617/https://www.eastmojo.com/assam/2021/12/21/assam-information-commission-for-action-on-depts-failing-to-submit-reports/ |url-status=live }}</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="asi ref4">{{cite news |title=Assam Information Commission for action against few government departments |url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/topheadlines/assam-information-commission-for-action-against-few-government-departments-484735 |access-date=17 January 2022 |publisher=sentinelassam.com |date=25 June 2020 |archive-date=18 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182559/https://www.sentinelassam.com/topheadlines/assam-information-commission-for-action-against-few-government-departments-484735 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Assam Information Commission occasionally conducts awareness programmes on implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 effectively by general public.<ref name="asi ref3">{{cite news |title=Assam Information Commission for action against departments failing to submit reports |url=https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2021/12/21/assam-information-commission-for-action-against-departments-failing-to-submit-reports/ |access-date=17 January 2022 |publisher=arunachaltimes.in |date=21 December 2021 |archive-date=18 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118042129/https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2021/12/21/assam-information-commission-for-action-against-departments-failing-to-submit-reports/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Tenure and service ==

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 |archive-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116013903/https://thewire.in/government/sc-orders-state-to-file-status-reports-on-information-commissions |url-status=live }}</ref>

Assam 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 |archive-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116022835/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rti-bill-2019-undermining-autonomy-of-information-commissions-and-transparency-in-governance-1571439-2019-07-19 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Powers and functions ==

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 has civil judicial authority 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 ==

Assam State Information Commission are overburdened with backlog cases, similar to [[Central Vigilance Commission]].<ref name="asic ref5">{{cite news |title=Seven months on, Assam Information Commission has no Commissioner |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/seven-months-on-assam-information-commission-has-no-commissioner/ |access-date=17 January 2022 |publisher=indianexpress.com |date=24 October 2014 |archive-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117051926/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/seven-months-on-assam-information-commission-has-no-commissioner/ |url-status=live }}</ref><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 |archive-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116023234/https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/08/27/central-information-commission-headless-for-5th-time-in-6-years.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A shortage of available staff has produced a 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 |archive-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116012917/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 |url-status=live }}</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 |archive-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116013041/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/over-32000-rti-appeals-pending-with-central-information-commission-govt/article37969462.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Uttar Pradesh]] has the largest backlog as of October 2014. 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 |archive-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116013430/https://theprint.in/india/21-of-29-state-information-commissions-did-not-hold-any-rti-hearings-during-lockdown/426103/ |url-status=live }}</ref> State Information Commission as per the provision has limited to provide information and cannot take any action.

In spite of above limitation, Assam State Information Commissions is critical in preserving public accountability in government 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 |archive-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116014835/https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/governance/state-information-commissions-inactive-during-covid-19-survey-70736 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also ==

[[Central Information Commission]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.sicassam.in/ Official Website]
* [https://assam.gov.in/en/main/RIGHT%20TO%20INFORMATION RTI Link]


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

Assam Information Commission - Revision history

GayleTibbs8 at 00:10, 16 October 2025