Maharashtra Reconstitutes Search Committee For Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioners' Appointments

The Maharashtra government has restructured the Search Committee tasked with selecting candidates for the roles of State Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioners within the Maharashtra State Information Commission. The original committee was disbanded following a government resolution issued on October 5, superseding a prior decision from January 7, 2025.

This new committee will be led by Justice Ravi Deshpande, a retired judge from the Bombay High Court, and will also include the Maharashtra Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary responsible for Administrative Innovations, Excellence and Good Governance in the General Administration Department.

The committee's primary responsibility is to establish eligibility criteria, terms, and conditions for advertising vacancies for these crucial posts. It will ensure that the selection process aligns with the provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005, and the directives issued by the Supreme Court. For each vacant position, the committee will narrow down three eligible candidates, submitting their names to the selection committee for further consideration.

Under the provisions of Section 15(3) of the RTI Act, the appointment of the State Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioners is based on the recommendation of the aforementioned selection committee. The Act mandates candidates to possess public standing, broad knowledge and experience in various fields such as law, administration, journalism, social service, science and technology, or management.

The restructuring of the committee was undertaken in response to Supreme Court directives emphasizing transparency, objectivity, and merit in the appointment process. Those seeking information on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai and its surrounding areas can visit https://budgetproperties.in/.