Punjab State Information Commission

The Government of Punjab constituted the Punjab State Information Commission on 11th October, 2005. Sh. Rajan Kashyap, IAS (Retd.), former Chief Secretary to Govt. Punjab was appointed Chief Information Commissioner, Punjab under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 on the same day.

Chief Information Commissioner, Punjab :

Sh. Inderpal Singh has been administered the oath of Chief Information Commissioner, Punjab under section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 and joined the office on 29.01.2024. His term of office is upto 28.01.2027.


Former Chief Information Commissioner/s, Punjab

Sr No. Name Term of Office Qualification & Experience
1. Sh. Rajan Kashyap, IAS (Retd.) 18.10.2005 to 29.07.2008
2. Sh. P.K. Verma, IAS (Retd.)officiating 07.08.2008 to 28.06.2009
3. Sh. Ramesh Inder Singh, IAS (Retd.) 29.06.2009 to 28.06.2014
4. Ms. Jaspal Kaurofficiating 25.07.2014 to 16.09.2014
5. Sh. Sarwan Singh Channy, IAS (Retd.) 17.09.2014 to 04.05.2019
6. Sh. Yashvir Mahajan, IAS (Retd.)officiating 09.05.2019 to 10.07.2019
7. Sh. Suresh Arora, IPS (Retd.) 10.07.2019 to 31.10.2022 Qualification :LLM (Master of Laws(University of London)); LL.B (Bachelor of Laws); Associate Member of Company Secretaries, The Institute of Company Secretaries of India, New Delhi; Post Graduate Diploma in Office Organization and procedures Punjab University, Chd.; Bachelor of Commerce. Passed an online course on RTI Act, 2005 conducted by Centre for Good Governance, Hyderabad.
Experience: More than 36 year Experience as a Police Officer on various posts DGP Punjab, Additional Director General of Police, Inspector General of Police, Inspector General of Police-cum-Director, Deputy Inspector General of Police and Senior Superintendent of Police; Retired as Director General of Police, Punjab.
3 year experience of Public Information Officer (PIO) in Police Deptt.
Awards :-Police Medal for Gallantry; Prakaram Medal; Special Duty Police Medal; Police Medal for Meritorious Services; President Police Medal for Distinguished Services; DG's Commendation Disc.
8. Sh. Khushwant Singhofficiating
Due to leave of Sh.Suresh Arora(CIC) from 01-11-2022 to 31-12-2022
01.11.2022 to 31.12.2022 Qualification :B.A. and Bachelor of Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh.
Experience: He has a wide range of experience in media & writing. He has authored five books and is a former consulting editor Day & Night News. He is also a former columnist, Hindustan Times.
9. Sh. Suresh Arora, IPS (Retd.) 01.01.2023 to 25.09.2023 Qualification :LLM (Master of Laws(University of London)); LL.B (Bachelor of Laws); Associate Member of Company Secretaries, The Institute of Company Secretaries of India, New Delhi; Post Graduate Diploma in Office Organization and procedures Punjab University, Chd.; Bachelor of Commerce. Passed an online course on RTI Act, 2005 conducted by Centre for Good Governance, Hyderabad.
Experience: More than 36 year Experience as a Police Officer on various posts DGP Punjab, Additional Director General of Police, Inspector General of Police, Inspector General of Police-cum-Director, Deputy Inspector General of Police and Senior Superintendent of Police; Retired as Director General of Police, Punjab.
3 year experience of Public Information Officer (PIO) in Police Deptt.
Awards :-Police Medal for Gallantry; Prakaram Medal; Special Duty Police Medal; Police Medal for Meritorious Services; President Police Medal for Distinguished Services; DG's Commendation Disc.

Conditions of Service of the Chief Information Commissioner/ State Information Commissioner.

The salary and allowances payable to and other terms & conditions of service of The State Chief Information Commissioner/ The State Information Commissioner(s) are as per the provisions in amended RTI Salary Rules, 2019 issued by Department of Personnel and Training, New Delhi vide notification dated 24-10-2019.

Information Commissioners

The State Information Commissioners have been administered the oath of office by the Governer of Punjab i.e Sarv Sh/Smt/Dr.

Sr No. Name Date of Oath/ Joining Date of super-annuation Qualification & Experience
1. Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal 16.08.2024 15.08.2027 Qualification :
Experience :
2. Virinderjit Singh Billing 16.08.2024 15.08.2027 Qualification :
Experience :
3. Dr.Bhupinder S Batth 16.08.2024 15.08.2027 Qualification :
Experience :

Former State Information Commissioner/s Punjab

Sr. Name Date of Oath Date of Retirement Qualification & Experience
1. Sh. R.K.Gupta (IPS Retd.) 17.05.2006 20.01.2010
2. Lt.Gen (Retd.) P.K.Grover 25.01.2007 17.11.2010
3. Smt. Rupan Deol Bajaj (IAS Retd.) 17.05.2006 22.12.2010
4. Sh. Darbara Singh Kahlon 09.06.2009 12.03.2011
5. Sh. P.K. Verma (IAS Retd.) 17.05.2006 16.05.2011
6. Er. Surinder Singh 17.05.2006 16.05.2011
7. Sh. Kulbir Singh 25.01.2007 24.01.2012
8. Sh. P.P.S. Gill 25.01.2007 24.01.2012
9. Smt. Ravi Singh 25.01.2007 24.01.2012
10. Smt. Jaspal Kaur 13.11.2009 27.10.2014 (Resigned)
11. Sh. Narinderjit Singh (IAS Retd.) 14.02.2012 01.12.2014
12. Sh. B.C.Thakur (IAS Retd.) 11.08.2011 14.06.2015
13. Sh. Satinder Pal Singh (IAS Retd.) 28.05.2012 31.07.2015
14. Sh. Surinder Awasthi 14.02.2012 27.01.2016
15. Sh. Harinderpal Singh Mann 14.02.2012 08.02.2016 (Resigned)
16. Sh. Chander Parkash 11.08.2011 10.08.2016
17. Sh. Parveen Kumar (IAS Retd.) 28.05.2012 02.12.2016 (Resigned)
18. Sh. Ravinder Singh Nagi 14.02.2012 16.01.2017 (Resigned)
19. Sh. Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke 24.02.2016 19.10.2017
20. Ms. Viney Kapoor Mehra 08.09.2016 10.03.2019 (Resigned)
21. Sh. Ajit Singh Chandurian 28.10.2014 31.03.2019
22. Sh. Yashvir Mahajan (IAS Retd.) 23.04.2015 09.12.2019
23. Sh. Nidharak Singh Brar 23.04.2015 22.04.2020
24. Dr. Pawan Kumar Singla 24.02.2016 18.01.2021 (Resigned)
25. Ms. Preety Chawla 08.09.2016 07.09.2021
26. Sh. Hem Inder Singh 23.12.2016 22.12.2021
27. Sh. Avtar Singh Kaler 23.12.2016 22.12.2021
28. Sh. Sanjiv Garg 13.03.2018 23.09.2022
29. Sh. Khushwant Singh 13.03.2018 12.03.2023 Qualification :B.A. and Bachelor of Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh.
Experience: He has a wide range of experience in media & writing. He has authored five books and is a former consulting editor Day & Night News. He is also a former columnist, Hindustan Times.
30. Lt Gen Ajae Kumar Sharma UYSM, YSM, SM (Retd.) 09.10.2019 04.08.2023 Qualification :B.Sc ; M.Sc (Defence & Strategic Studies) ; M.Phil (Defence & Management Studies) and M.Phil (Defence & Strategic Studies)
Military Qualification : PSc, Higher command, NDC and also attended counter terrorism and security studies course in Germany.
Experience: Illustrious military career spanning 38 years. Commissioned into 2nd Battalion The Sikh Regiment and commanded the same on the Line of Control. Subsequently commanded a Brigade in the North East, a Rashtriya Rifles Force in J&K and a Corps deployed along Line of Control in J&K.
Commanded a multinational Brigade as part of United Nations in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Pioneered the implementation of RTI Act in the Army when RTI Act was enacted in 2005.
Held important staff appointments at Army HQ and HQ IDS.
Awards: Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) ; Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) ; Sena Medal and COAS Commendation Card.
31. Sh. Anumit Singh Sodhi 21.10.2020 20.10.2023 Qualification :B.A. (English Lit. Economics), Diploma in Marketing (London School of Economics, UK)
Experience: Delegate, Punjab Youth Congress. Organized and planned elections of the Panchyats, Block Samiti, Zila Parishad, MC (Firozpur) and Punjab Assembly Elections.
32. Sh. Maninder Singh Patti 21.10.2020 20.10.2023 Qualification :B.A., LLB
Experience: Assistant Advocate General, Punjab. Commissioner, Right to Service, Punjab. Chairman, GENCO, Punjab.
33. Sh. Amrit Partap Singh Sekhon 07.04.2021 06.04.2024 Qualification : B.Com, LLB
Experience : Officer on Special Duty to minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India. Member, State Consultative Committee, Food Corporation of India. Officer on Special Duty to Hon'ble CM, Punjab. -
33. Sh. Asit Jolly 10.07.2019 09.07.2024 Qualification :PhD in Paleaontology (Earth Science); MSc Honours in Geology; BSc Honours in Geology
Experience: Deputy Editor with India Today magazine in Chandigarh responsible for covering Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Also reported on issues like aviation safety, poverty, science, social trends and political developments in Assam, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat etc. Special Correspondent with The Asian Age/ Deccan Chronicle newspaper. Correspondent with the BBC's South Asia Regional Unit (SARU), Hindi Service, Urdu Service and BBC News Online.

Secretary of the Commission

Ms. Ritu Aggarwal, IAS assumed additional charge on 16-October-2023.

Former Secretary/s of Punjab State Information Commission

Sr No. Name Term of Office
1. Sh.S.S. Sandhu, IAS 21.02.2006 to 18.09.2006
2. Sh.S.S. Grewal, IDES 08.02.2007 to 08.02.2010
3. Sh.S.S. Sandhu, IAS 11.02.2010 to 31.12.2011
4. Dr. Arvinder Singh, IAS 20.06.2012 to 31.08.2015
5. Ms.Jasvinder Kaur Sidhu, IAS 06.04.2016 to 16.08.2016
6. Sh.J.M. Balamurugan, IAS 24.08.2016 to 13.12.2016
7. Dr. Amarpal Singh, IAS 13.12.2016 to 05.09.2017
8. Ms.Jasvinder Kaur Sidhu, IAS 08.02.2018 to 06.03.2019
9. Ms.Madhavi Kataria, IAS 11.03.2019 to 03.03.2020
10. Sh.Rajiv Kumar Gupta, PCS 17.03.2020 to 29.07.2020
11. Sh.Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa, IAS 29.07.2020 to 20.04.2022
12. Sh.Rajiv Prashar, IAS 11.07.2022 to 16.08.2022
13. Dr. Indu Malhotra, IAS 16.08.2022 to 30.09.2023

Powers and functions of Punjab State Information Commission attention is drawn to sections 18,19,20 & 25 of the RTI Act, 2005.

Staff and source of Appointment:-

From Government: (Three persons)

Secretary to Commission (1)
Secretary to CIC (1)
Deputy/Assistant Controller Finance & Controller (1)

From Contract or Outsource:-

Deputy Registrar (1)
Personal Assistant (12)
Reader (11)
Senior Assistant (1)
Section Officer(1)
Accountant(1)
I.T. Professional (2)
Bill Clerk(1)
Receptionist (1)
Data Entry Operator (5)
Peon-cum-Messenger (1)
Peon(12)
Driver (11)

Legal Professional on Retainership (1)

Management of affairs of Punjab State Information Commission

Section 15(4) of the Act lays down that the general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the State Information Commission shall vest in the State Chief Information Commissioner who shall be assisted by the State Information Commissioners and may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things which may be exercised or done by Punjab State Information Commission autonomously without being subjected to directions by any other authority under this Act.

Coordinating Department

Department of Governance Reforms is the Administrative Co-ordinating Department of the State Government in respect of the Commission.

Jurisidiction

All Public Authorities in the State of Punjab.

Objective

The Punjab State Information Commission is the statutory Commission for fulfilling the mandate assigned in the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Role of Punjab State Informration Commission as a Public Authority

Punjab State Information Commission exercises powers for implementation of RTI Act under Sections 18,19,20 and 25. At the same time Punjab State Information Commission is itself a Public Authority as defined in section 2(h) of RTI Act, 2005.

Section 4 describes the obligations of public authority under the Act as below:-

"Section 4.

  1. Every public authority shall—
    1. maintain all its records duly catalogued and indexed in a manner and the form which facilitates the right to information under this Act and ensure that all records that are appropriate to be computerised are, within a reasonable time and subject to availability of resources, computerised and connected through a network all over the country on different systems so that access to such records is facilitated;
    2. publish within one hundred and twenty days from the enactment of this Act,—
      1. the par ticulars of its organisation, functions and duties;
      2. the powers and duties of its officers and employees;
      3. the procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability;
      4. the norms set by it for the discharge of its functions;
      5. the rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions;
      6. a statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control;
      7. the particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof;
      8. a statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public;
      9. a directory of its officers and employees;
      10. the monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations;
      11. the budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made;
      12. the manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes;
      13. particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorisations granted by it;
      14. details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form;
      15. the particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use;
      16. the names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers;
      17. such other information as may be prescribed; and thereafter update these publications every year
    3. publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing the decisions which affect public;
    4. provide reasons for its administrative or quasi-judicial decisions to affected persons.
  2. It shall be a constant endeavour of every public authority to take steps in accordance with the requirements of clause (b) of sub-section (1) to provide as much information suo motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communications, including internet, so that the public have minimum resort to the use of this Act to obtain information.
  3. For the purposes of sub-section (1), every information shall be disseminated widely and in such form and manner which is easily accessible to the public.
  4. All materials shall be disseminated taking into consideration the cost effectiveness, local language and the most effective method of communication in that local area and the information should be easily accessible, to the extent possible in electronic format with the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, available free or at such cost of the medium or the print cost price as may be prescribed.

Explanation.— For the purposes of sub-sections (3) and (4), "disseminated" means making known or communicated the information to the public through notice boards, newspapers, public announcements, media broadcasts, the internet or any other means, including inspection of offices of any public authority. "