CIC appointment pending since three years, legal intervention

RAIPUR,INDIA: The selection process for the new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of Chhattisgarh is underway, with a search committee headed by an Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) leading the scrutiny of 58 applications. The final selection is expected to take place during the upcoming budget session starting on February 24.

A four-member scrutiny committee, chaired by ACS-level IAS officer Manoj Pingua, includes Principal Secretary Panchayat Niharika Barik, Principal Secretary Tribal Department Sonmoni Borah, and Secretary General Administration Department Avinash Champawat. The committee was formed following a Supreme Court directive in response to a petition by Anjali Bhardwaj, ensuring that the CIC applications undergo a high-level review.

A three-member panel consisting of the Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition will ultimately decide the appointment. Among the applicants are notable figures such as Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, outgoing DGP Ashok Juneja, former Chief Secretary RP Mandal, former DGP DM Awasthi, current Information Commissioner Narendra Shukla, and retired IAS officers Umesh Aggarwal and Sanjay Alang. Former Information Commissioner Manoj Trivedi is also among the 58 candidates.

Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain is considered a leading contender due to his experience and seniority. Other strong candidates include Ashok Juneja, RP Mandal, and DM Awasthi. The government's recent intensified focus on the appointment has fueled speculation that Jain may be selected for the role.

If Jain is appointed as CIC, potential successors for the Chief Secretary position include Renu Pillay, Richa Sharma, or Manoj Pingua. Jain's tenure as Chief Secretary is set to end on June 30, and he has already completed four years in the post.