The Government of West Bengal nominated two new information commissioners to the West Bengal Information Commission on Wednesday (March 19, 2025).
One of the nominees is retired Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer Sanchita Kumar, who is the wife of the West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP), Rajeev Kumar. The other is Mriganko Mahato, former Trinamool Congress MP, and former member of the West Bengal Public Service Commission.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Also present was Minister for Parliamentary Affairs in the West Bengal Assembly, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay.
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who is also part of the three-member committee, stayed away from the meeting. In a letter addressed to the Department of Administrative and Personal Reforms, Mr. Adhikari had on March 11 raised the issue of the rape and murder of a post graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital and said that as long as perpetrators of the crime, including WB government officials and influential politicians of the ruling party in the State are not jailed, his “conscience” would not allow him to attend a meeting with the Chief Minister.
This is not the first time that the Leader of Opposition has not participated in a meeting with the Chief Minister on the appointment of members of quasi judicial bodies, paving the way for the State Government to nominate members of its choice.
Adhikari’s boycott
Mr. Adhikari stayed away from at least half a dozen such meetings, including in December 2023, when the State Government appointed members to the West Bengal Human Rights Commission. The LOP said that the meeting was a “mere eyewash that has only been planned by the ruling dispensation to give effect to favouritism.”
RTI activist Biswanath Goswami, however, said that by not participating, the LOP is only making things easier for the government and allowing it to appoint nominees of its choice. “The LOP could have participated and given a dissent note, which could have been challenged before a court. Not participating in meetings to appoint members to quasi judicial bodies is evading responsibility and making things easier for the State Ggovernment,” Mr. Goswami said.
Too close for comfort
According to reports, nine applications were received for the post of State Information Commissioner, which included journalists, legal professionals, and a retired IPS officer who has served as DG and IGP Railways. The nomination of Ms. Kumar, who served as Principal Commissioner (Income Tax) Shillong and took voluntary retirement, has raised questions in political and administrative circles. particularly because Mr. Kumar is perceived to be close to the Chief Minister.
Ms. Banerjee reinstated Rajeev Kumar as the DGP in July 2024, months after the Election Commission of India removed him during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In February 2019, the West Bengal Chief Minister sat on a dharna for several days after CBI officials tried to enter the police officer’s residence to allegedly question him in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam. Rajeev Kumar was the Commissioner of Kolkata Police in 2019.
The West Bengal Information Commission is headed by Virendra, former DGP of West Bengal Police, and Naveen Prakash, retired IAS officer. Activists like Mr. Goswami have often raised questions about the tardy functioning of quasi-judicial bodies in the State that provide “post retirement opportunities for retired bureaucrats”.
Published – March 20, 2025 05:20 am IST