R K Goyal appointed as CIC

Jammu, Dec 13: Former Law and Justice Secretary Raj Kumar Goyal, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of erstwhile J&K cadre, has been appointed as the new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of India.

His name as CIC, along with eight other Information Commissioners, was cleared by a three-member selection panel headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier this week.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi are two other members of the selection panel.

Central Information Commission – the highest appellate authority to adjudicate RTI-related complaints and appeals - had been headless since September 14, after the retirement of CIC Heeralal Samariya.

Goyal will be administered the oath of office (CIC) by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on December 15 at 11 am. Following it, Goyal will administer oaths to the eight Information Commissioners.

With their oath ceremony, the 11-member Central Information Commission will work with its full strength after a long gap of 7 years. So far, it has been working with just two Information Commissioners.

A 1990-batch (retired) IAS officer of AGMUT (erstwhile J&K) cadre, Goyal superannuated as Union Secretary, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice on August 31 this year.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training, had appointed Goyal as Secretary, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice on May 27, 2024.

Goyal, who served on various prestigious assignments in J&K, including Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Home in J&K, proceeded on central deputation in February 2024.

During his central deputation, prior to his appointment as Law Secretary, he served as Secretary, Department of Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs.