Bangalore banker among 3 CIC information commissioners

A former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief, ex-  bureaucrat and a Bangalore based banker have been shortlisted for appointment as three new Information Commissioners at the transparency panel - Central Information Commission (CIC).

Former IB chief Rajiv Mathur, former environment secretary Vijai Sharma and Syndicate Bank Chairman and Managing Director Basant Seth have been shortlisted by the panel headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh which included Law Minister Salman Khurshid and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj.

According to official sources, a formal announcement on appointment would be made shortly.

Mathur, a 1972 batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, has served IB for nearly three decades including 15 years in Washington. He took over the reigns of the agency in January 2009, before retiring on December 31, 2010.

Sharma, a 1974 batch IAS officer, from Uttar Pradesh cadre, was secretary in Union Environment Ministry before his superannuation in December 2010. He had held positions as State Housing Secretary, State Environment Secretary and Chairman of State Pollution Control Board among others.

Seth, CMD of Syndicate Bank, Bangalore, has held senior positions in Small Industries Development Bank and Bank of India.

The transparency panel, according to RTI Act, should have a Chief Information Commissioner and 10 Central Information Commissioners (CIC). However, as of now, there are just five Information Commissioners leaving a shortage of five, which has created a pendency of 20,000 appeals under the RTI Act.