Goyal Takes Oath as Chief Information Commissioner Amid Controversy Over Appointments

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In a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, former IAS officer Raj Kumar Goyal was sworn in as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) on Monday, marking a significant milestone for the Central Information Commission. Eight new information commissioners, including former Railway Board chairman Jaya Varma Sinha and senior journalist P R Ramesh, also took the oath of office, bringing the Commission to its full strength after years of vacancies. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to Goyal, who has an illustrious career spanning over three decades, having served as secretary in the Department of Justice and held senior positions in the Centre and in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The appointment has been shrouded in controversy, with opposition parties and civil society groups expressing concerns over the selection process. The appointments come after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-member panel recommended the names of the new commissioners last week. However, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recorded a note of dissent, citing concerns over the lack of representation from marginalized communities. Government officials have maintained that the selection process was carried out in accordance with the prescribed procedure. The Central Information Commission, headed by the CIC, is the final appellate authority for RTI matters involving central public authorities, Union ministries, departments, and public sector undertakings. The Commission's functioning had been severely impacted by vacancies in recent years, resulting in delays in the hearing and disposal of RTI appeals and complaints. The appointments are seen as a significant step towards strengthening the Commission and ensuring the effective implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. However, the controversy surrounding the selection process may continue to be a point of contention in the days to come.