Rahul Gandhi disagrees with govt picks in CIC selection meet with PM Modi
.webp)
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday submitted a formal dissent during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to select the next Central Information Commissioner, India Today reported.
The closed-door meeting reportedly lasted nearly 1 hour and 25 minutes. According to the report, the Congress MP disagreed with the names proposed by the government for the top posts and handed over his dissent note.
The panel is also expected to decide on appointments to fill eight vacant positions of information commissioners at the Central Information Commission (CIC).
What does the selection panel do?
The government had earlier informed the Supreme Court that the officials for the top posts at the CIC would be decided by the PM Modi-led panel today. Under Section 12(3) of the Right to Information Act (RTI), the selection committee comprises the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and a Union minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
The CIC hears complaints and appeals from RTI applicants dissatisfied with responses from public authorities. The Chief Information Commissioner and up to ten information commissioners constitute the full commission.
Why is the selection significant now?
The CIC currently has only two information commissioners, Anandi Ramalingam and Vinod Kumar Tiwari, leaving eight posts vacant. The backlog stands at 30,838 pending cases. The last Central Information Commissioner, Heeralal Samariya, demitted office in September after turning 65. He was appointed in November 2023.
In response to a May 21 advertisement for the Chief Information Commissioner’s post, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said it received 83 applications, according to an RTI reply to activist Commodore Lokesh Batra (retd). For the information commissioner vacancies, 161 applications were received.
How does the appointment process work?
The DoPT issues advertisements in newspapers and on its website inviting applications for the Chief Information Commissioner’s post. It compiles the names received and forwards them to a search committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.
The search committee shortlists candidates and sends the list to the selection committee headed by the Prime Minister. Once the panel finalises a candidate, the appointment is made by the President.
Other Latest News
.webp)
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the Central government as to why the situation that led to the cancellation of a number of flights by IndiGo precipitated, and termed it a crisis.
The high court said besides trouble and harassment caused to the stranded passengers, the question is of the losses caused to the country's economy.
.webp)
The legal team of Byju Raveendran, founder of edtech firm Byju’s, said the Delaware court has amended the $1 billion judgment against Raveendran after fresh submissions made through a motion to correct the judgment of November 20, 2025.
.webp)
Ports-to-energy conglomerate Adani Group is all set to invest up to ₹12 trillion in India in the next six years, chairman Gautam Adani said.
The sizeable investments will be made in infrastructure, mining, renewable energy and ports, among others, he said.
.webp)
India's IndusInd Bank Chairman Sunil Mehta will step down after his term concludes in January, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, marking the latest leadership change at the private lender.
The bank reported its largest-ever quarterly loss in the three months ended March 31, following a $230 million hit to its accounts.
.webp)
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Tuesday asked chief executive officers of public- and private-sector banks to lower intermediation costs and bolster operational efficiencies, citing the 125 basis points (bps) policy rate reduction since February.
The governor conveyed this in an interaction with bank chiefs, four days after the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) cut the benchmark repo rate by 25 bps to 5.25 per cent, the lowest in three years. One basis point equals 0.01 percentage point.
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
