New Delhi, Apr 24: Fresh details accessed under the Right to Information Act have revealed that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi expressed disagreement over the government’s choice for the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), proposing alternative candidates during a key selection meeting held late last year.
The information emerged through an RTI query filed by activist Lokesh Batra, to which the Department of Personnel and Training released the official minutes of the meeting conducted on December 10, 2025, inside Parliament.
Panel Meeting and Key Participants
The selection panel, constituted under provisions of the RTI Act, included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The committee is responsible for appointing the Chief Information Commissioner and other information commissioners to the Central Information Commission.
According to the released minutes, the name of former IAS officer Raj Kumar Goyal was proposed by Amit Shah for the position of CIC.
Gandhi Registers Dissent
However, Rahul Gandhi did not endorse the proposal and instead submitted a written note suggesting three alternative candidates. These included former Labour Ministry Secretary Sumita Dawra, former Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court S Muralidhar, and noted academic Faizan Mustafa.
In his submission, Gandhi highlighted Dawra’s extensive administrative experience spanning over three decades, emphasizing her expertise in public policy and governance. He also described Muralidhar and Mustafa as accomplished professionals with strong credentials in law, justice, and public service.
Despite the dissent, the government proceeded with the appointment of Raj Kumar Goyal as the Chief Information Commissioner.
Differences in Other Appointments
The meeting also considered the appointment of eight additional information commissioners. While consensus was reached on most candidates, the minutes indicate that Gandhi disagreed with one of the proposed names.
Interestingly, the documents do not disclose the identity of the candidate who lacked unanimous support, nor do they clarify whether that individual was ultimately appointed.
Final Appointments Notified
Following the committee’s deliberations, the government formally notified the appointment of Goyal along with eight information commissioners on December 15, 2025.
Transparency and Institutional Debate
The disclosures have once again brought attention to the selection process for key transparency institutions and the role of dissent within high-level appointment committees. While differences of opinion are not uncommon in such panels, the RTI-based revelation provides rare insight into internal deliberations that typically remain confidential.
The development underscores the continuing relevance of the RTI framework in shedding light on decision-making processes at the highest levels of government.