The Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday, December 1, 2025, that a Prime Minister-led panel will meet on December 10 to select and recommend names for the top posts in the Central Information Commission (CIC). Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj said the meeting notice has been sent. The Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard a plea about filling vacant posts in CIC and state information commissions (SICs). Under the Right to Information Act, Section 12 (3), the PM chairs the panel along with the Leader of Opposition and a Union Minister. They decide on appointments for the Chief Information Commissioner and other information commissioners. The court deferred the hearing after noting the submission. It asked chief secretaries of all states to provide details on total strength, vacant posts, and pending cases in SICs. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing petitioners including Anjali Bhardwaj, said vacant posts remain unfilled, causing huge backlogs. He highlighted that some states appointed a few commissioners but argue that partial staff is enough. Bhushan cited seven court orders directing speedy filling of vacancies. On November 27, the court deferred the matter after learning the selection meeting set for October 28, 2025, did not occur due to scheduling conflicts. The court requested the Department of Personnel and Training to note vacancies for prompt action. It recognized that some states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Karnataka have filled most vacancies, while Chhattisgarh promised to fill gaps within six weeks. On October 27, the court refused to order public disclosure of shortlisted candidates’ names but pushed states like Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh to fill SIC vacancies immediately. Bhardwaj said governments seem to be weakening the Right to Information by neglecting commissions. The CIC currently has no chief and eight of 10 commissioner posts remain vacant. He said the backlog reaches nearly 30,000 cases, defying court orders to promptly fill positions. Earlier, in January 2025, the Supreme Court criticized delays and called for urgent appointments. It also questioned the dominance of bureaucrats in appointments instead of including diverse candidates. Activists argue that since a 2019 Supreme Court order, many states stalled appointing commissioners, harming the RTI Act's effectiveness. The court has repeatedly urged timely appointments since February 2019, noting some SICs like Jharkhand and Telangana are almost non-functional. The RTI Act of 2005 risks becoming a "dead letter" without timely appointments, the court warned. It also urged information commissioners to come from varied backgrounds. The Centre and states have been directed to publish selection panel member names and speed appointment processes. The hearing continues as the panel prepares to meet on December 10.