24 January 2026 : In 2019, the Central Government issued new rules under the Right to Information Act, 2005. These rules clearly define the term of office, salary, allowances and other service conditions of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners at both the Central and State levels.
The rules are formally called the Right to Information (Term of Office, Salaries, Allowances and Other Terms and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2019. They came into effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
Under these rules, the Chief Information Commissioner and the Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission hold office for a period of three years from the date they assume charge. The same three year term applies to the State Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioners in the State Information Commission.
If a person was serving in the Central or State Government at the time of appointment as an Information Commissioner, that person is treated as retired from their previous government service from the date of joining the Commission. This ensures that the post is independent and not linked to earlier service.
The salary structure is clearly defined. The Chief Information Commissioner at the Central level receives a fixed monthly salary of Rs. 2,50,000. An Information Commissioner at the Central level receives Rs. 2,25,000 per month. At the State level, both the State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioners receive Rs. 2,25,000 per month.
If the appointed person is already receiving a pension from previous government service, the salary will be reduced by the amount of that pension. Similarly, if the person had received retirement benefits from certain government corporations or government companies, the salary will be adjusted accordingly. This prevents double financial benefit from public funds.
In addition to salary, the Commissioners are entitled to Dearness Allowance at the same rate as officers holding posts with equivalent pay in the respective Central or State Government. They are also entitled to leave as per the rules applicable to officers of similar pay level. At the Central level, leave for the Chief Information Commissioner is sanctioned by the President of India, while for Information Commissioners it is sanctioned by the Chief Information Commissioner. At the State level, leave for the State Chief Information Commissioner is sanctioned by the Governor, and for State Information Commissioners by the State Chief Information Commissioner.
The rules also provide for leave encashment. At the end of their tenure, Commissioners can encash fifty percent of the earned leave standing to their credit, subject to certain overall limits if they had previously retired from government service.
Medical facilities are provided under the Central Government Health Scheme where applicable. In areas where this scheme is not available, medical benefits are provided under the Central Service (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1944, or corresponding State Government provisions.
Accommodation is also covered. Commissioners may be provided official residence from the general pool, subject to availability. If accommodation is not provided or not availed, they are eligible for House Rent Allowance as per the applicable government rules.
They are also entitled to Leave Travel Concession, Travelling Allowance and Daily Allowance, similar to officers drawing equivalent pay in the Central or State Government.
The rules further state that if any matter relating to service conditions is not specifically mentioned, it will be referred to the Central Government for a decision, and that decision will be binding. The Central Government also has the power to relax the provisions of these rules in certain cases. Any issue regarding interpretation of the rules will also be decided by the Central Government.
Overall, these 2019 rules bring clarity and uniformity to the service conditions of Information Commissioners. By fixing tenure, pay, allowances and administrative procedures, the rules aim to standardize the functioning of the Central and State Information Commissions under the Right to Information framework.
Author – Kundan Jha
Reference – The Right to Information (Term of Office, Salaries, Allowances and Other Terms and Conditions of Service of Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission, State Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioners in the State Information Commission) Rules, 2019.
