By NEW DELHI: During a meeting of the high-level committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to select the new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi submitted a dissent note, objecting to the absence of candidates from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes in the proposed list.
The committee convened on Wednesday and is understood to have finalized the appointment of the CIC and eight Information Commissioners. According to sources, Gandhi requested additional information on the shortlisted candidates and raised concerns about the criteria used for their selection.
The meeting, which lasted more than 90 minutes, took place at the Prime Minister’s Office and was attended by Gandhi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Unconvinced by the selection process, Gandhi formally recorded his dissent. Specific details regarding the appointments were not disclosed.
The government had earlier informed the Supreme Court that this meeting would be held to decide the names for these posts.
Under Section 12(3) of the Right to Information Act, the selection committee is chaired by the prime minister and includes the leader of the opposition and a Union minister nominated by the prime minister, who together recommend appointments to the positions of CIC and Information Commissioner.
