'Norms Thrown To The Wind, Was Kept In Dark': Adhir Ranjan Writes To President Murmu Over Selection Of CIC

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said he was kept in "dark" over the selection of CIC and ICs adding that voice of the opposition should be heard in the selection process.

Congress leader and LoP in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu expressing displeasure over the selection of Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Heeralal Samariya and Information Commissioners (ICs). He said all democratic norms, customs and procedures were "thrown to the wind" in carrying out the selection of CIC and ICs, adding that democratic norms envisage that the "voice of the Opposition too is heard" in the selection process.

"To meet this democratic end, the Leader of the Largest Opposition Party in Lok Sabha serves as a Member of the Selection Committee which is chaired by the Prime Minister, with the Home Minister being the other Member," he said,

"...I, despite being a Member of the Selection Committee in my capacity as the Leader of the largest Opposition Party in Lok Sabha was totally kept in the dark about the selection of CIC/ICs, at the meeting that was held at the residence of the Prime Minister on 3 November..." the Congress MP added. 

Chowdhury emphasised that the names of the selected candidates were announced, notified and also sworn into Office "within" hours of the meeting where only Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were present and "the "face of the opposition", that is, me, as a bona-fide member of the Selection Committee was not present".

"Unfortunately, while the scheduled time of the Selection Meeting at 6.00 PM on 3 November, 2023 suited the Prime Minister and the Home Minister despite their hectic electioneering schedules, my plea for re-scheduling the Meeting, to be held in the morning on the same day i.e. 3 November, 2023 was totally disregarded, and all my sincere efforts to attend the Meeting failed," he mentioned in the letter.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said that constitutional traditions, rules and regulations have been violated in the appointment of CIC.

"...the leader of the opposition party or the leader of largest party in the House or LoP Rajya Sabha should have been called. When the model code of conduct is in force, then the appointment of the Chief Information Commissioner is unparliamentary and a violation of rules and regulations," Tiwari said.