Jawed Usmani’s appointment as CIC raises eyebrows

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#CIC #Jawed Usmani

Jawed Usmani's appointment as CIC raises eyebrows

News18 | Gulam Jeelani | Tue Nov 04, 2014 | 19:30 IST

#Lucknow #Uttar Pradesh Even before the official announcement of the name, the appointment of Former Uttar Pradesh's (UP) chief secretary Jawed Usmani as chief information commissioner (CIC) of the UP State Information Commission has run into controversy.

The choice of the 1978 IAS officer Usmani -currently posted as Chairman of UP Board of Revenue-was approved by the selection committee that met here under the chairmanship of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday. The decision, sources said, would now be forwarded to Governor Ram Naik for final stamp on the choice.

According to the sources, Usmani's final appointment may face hurdles on account of his post. A non-profit organization-Transparency, Accountability and Human Rights Initiative for Revolution' (TAHRIR) has also sent a memorandum to the Governor warning him against Usmani, who is due to retire in 2016.

"Possible involvement of awed Usmani in Hindalco coal Scam case as Central Bureau of Investigation had earlier decided to question Jawed Usmani, the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh and a former joint secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, regarding the controversial coal block allocation to Hindalco, though as a witness," the memorandum says.
Jawed Usmani

That Usmani is still a serving IAS officer and draws his salary from the state exchequer, also seems to go against his appointment for the top post in the transparency watchdog. For the Right to Information Act clearly states since CIC is a constitutional post, the incumbent should not be on the pay rolls of any government.

"So, in the larger interest of the society, we are requesting you not to give a final nod to the name of Jawed Usmani," the memorandum said.

Noteworthy, the CIC post was vacated after controversial ex-bureaucrat Ranjit Singh Pankaj's term was over in July this year. Considered close to Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Usmani was appointed as chief secretary following the party's landslide victory in 2012, becoming state's first Muslim to occupy the top bureaucratic position. He was, however, shunted to Board of Revenue soon after the SP's rout in Lok Sabha elections.

A CIC enjoys the status equivalent to that of a judge of the Supreme Court and has a term of five years or till the completion of 65 years age, whichever earlier. Not so long ago Usmani's name was doing the rounds to take over as Secretary (Disinvestment) in Government of India. Before that, he was expected to be appointed as secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, in Union government.