Kept in the dark; democratic norms thrown to wind, says Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on selection of Chief Information Commissioner

Congress MP and member of the selection committee for appointment of the Chief Information Commissioner Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has written to President Droupadi Murmu saying he was “kept in the dark” in the selection process and that all democratic norms, customs and procedures were “thrown to the wind”. In the letter, Mr. Chowdhury said the voice of the Opposition has been “ignored” and that is not good for democracy.

Congress MP and member of the selection committee for appointment of the Chief Information Commissioner Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has written to President Droupadi Murmu saying he was "kept in the dark" in the selection process and that all democratic norms, customs and procedures were "thrown to the wind".

In the letter, Mr. Chowdhury said the voice of the Opposition has been "ignored" and that is not good for democracy.

Former IAS officer Heeralal Samariya was on November 6 sworn in as the Chief Information Commissioner by President Murmu.

Mr. Chowdhury alleged that his plea for change of timing of the meeting of the selection committee, which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was not changed from evening to morning of November 3 and that he was not even informed about the decisions taken.

"Given the facts pertaining to the entire selection process as brought out above, I would urge upon you to take every possible measure for ensuring that our democratic traditions and ethos do not continue to get diluted by not giving the Opposition its rightful and legitimate place to be heard," Mr. Chowdhury said in the letter to the President.

The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament said despite being a member of the selection committee, he was "totally kept in the dark" about the selection of the CIC/ICS, at the meeting that was held at the residence of the Prime Minister at 6 p.m. on November 3.