Kerala State Information Commission was constituted under section 15(1) of the Right to Information Act 2005, through gazette notification No.80649/Cdn.5/05/GAD dated 19th December 2005 (Gazette No.Vol.L/2731 dated 19-12-2005. The Commission consists of the State Chief Information Commissioner and five State Information Commissioners.
The main function of State Information Commission, Kerala, is to receive and enquire into complaints in matters relating to requesting or obtaining access to information under RTI Act as also act as Second Appellate Authority against orders of State PIOs. The Act provides that while inquiring into any complaint under Section 18, the Commission shall have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court while trying a suit under Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 in respect of summoning and enforcing attendance of persons, discovery and inspection of documents, receiving evidence of affidavit, requisitioning any public records, issuing summonses of examination of witnesses or documents etc.
The commission is autonomous and is not subject to directions by any other authority under the Act. The Commission is required to prepare annual reports on implementation of the provisions of the Act during the year and the State Government is required to cause a copy of the report of the Commission laid before each House of the State Legislature.
The Commission is governed by The Right to Information Act 2005 and Rules made by the government under the said Act. In dealing with complaints, the Commission also exercises some powers of Courts under The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. The Commission will be maintaining separate records of complaints and appeals made to it under the Act.
For more details: http://sic.kerala.gov.in
