Congress’ Adhir Ranjan says collegium to appoint CIC, IC ‘futile exercise’ as government has majority | India News

NEW DELHI: Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the collegium to appoint the information commissioners and the CIC is a “futile exercise”, as the government has a majority in the committee and it does as it pleases.
Chowdhury was unavailable for the meeting to select the CIC and ICs called on Friday. He claimed that he had asked the government to hold a meeting by early morning on November 3, since he was travelling outside the capital and to Kolkata for pre-decided important engagements.“I was told that PM and HM were busy with the election campaign and cannot find any other time, while the appointments were urgent. I may be a small leader but I also have important meetings. I waited in the city for a long time hoping that a meeting could be called accommodating my schedule. I only left Delhi on November 3 afternoon,” he told TOI.
Chowdhury said the panel is a formality since it has PM and HM as members who form the majority. He said given the equation, the government tailors the criteria to fit the nominees it is eager to appoint. “What happens is what the government and its bureaucrats decide. I am encouraged to write a dissent note to wind up the process. It is just a pro forma activity,” he said.
Chowdhury recalled the only meaningful outcome from such collegiums was in 2021 by the panel that selects the CBI Director, as it comprises the Chief Justice of India. He said the then CJI NV Ramanna had put his foot down citing norms in May 2021 over the government’s chosen nominee to head the CBI, which forced the Centre to review its choice. “The CIC panel has no meaning since the numerical equation is such. The government does as it pleases,” he said.