Who Is IAS Raj Kumar Goyal? Central Information Commission Restored to Full Strength as He Takes Charge as Chief Information Commissioner Alongside Eight New Appointees
After years of operating with critical vacancies, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has finally been restored to its complete sanctioned strength with the appointment of IAS officer Raj Kumar Goyal as the new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC). His elevation, along with the induction of eight new Information Commissioners, marks a significant administrative milestone, bringing the country’s apex transparency watchdog back to full operational capacity after nearly seven years.
With these appointments, the commission now comprises one Chief Information Commissioner and ten Information Commissioners, a level of staffing it has not enjoyed for more than nine years. The move is expected to substantially ease the backlog of pending cases under the Right to Information (RTI) Act and improve the overall efficiency of the institution.
Commission Revitalised After Prolonged Vacancies
For over a year, the CIC had been functioning with an acute shortage of members. Since November 2023, only two Information Commissioners—Anandi Ramalingam and Vinod Kumar Tiwari—were in position, while eight sanctioned posts remained vacant. This prolonged understaffing had severely impacted case disposal rates and raised concerns among transparency advocates and civil society groups.
The appointment of Raj Kumar Goyal as Chief Information Commissioner brings an end to this prolonged phase of institutional constraint and restores the commission’s decision-making capacity.
President to Administer Oath on December 15
President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to administer the oath of office and secrecy to Chief Information Commissioner Raj Kumar Goyal and the eight newly appointed Information Commissioners on December 15 at 11:00 am. The ceremony will formally induct the new members, who will take their oath before the Chief Information Commissioner.
Following this event, the Central Information Commission will begin functioning at its full statutory strength, a development being closely watched by transparency activists and administrative observers alike.
Vacancy Arose After Retirement of Former CIC Hiralal Samariya
The post of Chief Information Commissioner had remained unoccupied since September 13, after the completion of the tenure of Hiralal Samariya, who retired upon attaining the age of 65. Samariya holds the distinction of being India’s first Dalit Chief Information Commissioner.
His retirement left the CIC without a head for the seventh time in the last eleven years, highlighting recurring delays in filling top statutory positions.
Selection Panel Meeting and Political Objections
The appointments were finalised following a meeting of the three-member selection committee held on December 10. The panel was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and included Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
During the meeting, Rahul Gandhi recorded a formal note of dissent, raising objections over the criteria and methodology adopted for selecting the candidates. The government subsequently rejected his objections and defended the selection process. Despite the disagreement, the committee cleared the appointment of the new Chief Information Commissioner, eight Information Commissioners, and a vigilance commissioner.
Composition Reflects Strong Bureaucratic Presence
The newly reconstituted Central Information Commission is dominated by retired senior bureaucrats, reflecting the government’s emphasis on administrative experience, institutional knowledge, and long-standing exposure to governance systems.
The diverse professional backgrounds of the appointees are expected to strengthen the commission’s ability to handle complex RTI appeals across sectors.
Highest Female Representation in Recent Years
Among the eight newly appointed Information Commissioners are three women, marking the highest level of female representation in the CIC in recent times. The women commissioners include:
Jaya Varma Sinha, former and first woman Chairperson of the Railway Board
Sudha Rani Relangi, former Member (Legal) of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)
Swagat Das, a former IPS officer who served in the Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Cabinet Secretariat
This enhanced gender representation is being viewed as a positive step toward broader inclusivity in statutory oversight bodies.
Other Newly Appointed Information Commissioners
The remaining appointees bring expertise from administration, environment, security, and journalism. They include:
Surendra Singh Meena, former Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (IAS, 1993 batch)
Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, former Central Secretariat Service officer and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs
Khushwant Singh Sethi, former Indian Forest Service officer and ex-Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Tripura
P. R. Ramesh, senior journalist
Ashutosh Chaturvedi, journalist and Editor-in-Chief
Collectively, the new members bring a wide-ranging blend of policy, governance, law enforcement, environmental management, and media experience to the commission.
Who Is the New Chief Information Commissioner, Raj Kumar Goyal?
Cadre and Service Background
Raj Kumar Goyal is a retired 1990-batch Indian Administrative Service officer from the AGMUT cadre (Arunachal Pradesh–Goa–Mizoram–Union Territories). He superannuated on August 31 after serving as Secretary, Department of Justice, under the Ministry of Law and Justice.
Educational Qualifications
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics from Roorkee University, Uttar Pradesh. His technical education has consistently supported his ability to manage complex policy, administrative, and institutional responsibilities.
Key Roles Held During a Three-Decade Career
Over more than thirty years in public service, Raj Kumar Goyal has occupied several prominent positions at both the Centre and in states, including:
Secretary, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice
Secretary (Border Management), Ministry of Home Affairs
Financial Commissioner, Jammu
Principal Secretary to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and Amarnath Shrine Board
Deputy Commissioner, Jammu
His administrative career began in 1992 as Sub-Divisional Officer/Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDO/SDM) Basholi, where he gained extensive grassroots governance experience.
Deep Administrative Experience in Jammu and Kashmir
A significant portion of Goyal’s career was spent in Jammu and Kashmir, where he handled senior responsibilities during politically and administratively sensitive periods. As Principal Secretary to the Governor and Financial Commissioner, he played a key role in maintaining governance continuity and administrative coordination.
His leadership of the Vaishno Devi and Amarnath Shrine Boards further demonstrated his capacity to manage large, high-profile institutions of national and religious significance.
Role in Strengthening India’s Legal and Justice Framework
As Secretary in the Department of Justice, Raj Kumar Goyal was closely involved in shaping national-level legal reforms and policy initiatives. His tenure contributed to improving institutional efficiency and reinforcing the justice delivery mechanism within India’s legal system.
Assumption of Office as Chief Information Commissioner
Raj Kumar Goyal will formally assume charge as Chief Information Commissioner after the oath-taking ceremony on December 15. His appointment is widely expected to bring administrative stability, legal expertise, and renewed momentum to the Central Information Commission at a time when transparency, accountability, and effective implementation of the RTI Act remain vital to democratic governance in India.
