The Central Information Commission will retain only digital version of case files in which decision has been taken more than six months ago provided no further appeal in higher court or action is pending in them.

The decision to weed out papers in such matters was taken at a recent meeting of the transparency panel where need was felt to draw a retention schedule of the documents to ensure a clutter-free office and smarten up record keeping at the Commission.

"All disposed of quasi judicial case files, that has attained the age of six months or more from its date of decision, shall be weeded out except those required in further legal proceeding in a superior court or those required in non-compliance of orders of the Commission, recovery of penalty, compensation or disciplinary action as directed by the Commission.?However, In all cases digitised version would be retained," the meeting decided.

The meeting chaired by Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra also decided to follow the same record destruction procedure as?practised in the High Courts, Supreme Court of India and NHRC. The panel directed the officials to ascertain the same immediately.

The issue of inadequate budget and insufficient staff was also discussed during the meeting and the Chief Information Commissioner would soon be meeting the Minister of State for Personnel and Training to raise the issue with him.