Dropping controversial Delhi Police chief B S Bassi from the list of contenders, three former bureaucrats were on Friday chosen Commissioners in Central Information Commission by a selection panel led by Prime Minister of Inidia Narendra Modi.
Former Information and Broadcasting Secretary Bimal Julka, Gujarat cadre IAS officer Amitava Bhattacharya and former Special Director of Intelligence Bureau D P Sinha have been selected as Information Commissioners in the transparency panel, official sources said. The decision to drop Bassi’s candidature was taken in the face of stiff opposition from Congress Leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.
Kharge is believed to have presented a note citing several instances including the alleged inaction of Delhi Police during two days of violence in Patiala House Court complex during the hearing of JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar’s case this week. Bassi had also come under attack from other opposition parties, rights activists and others over the violence in the court premises.
However, Bassi, who retires as Delhi’s top cop this month end, said he was not disappointed. He had applied for the post. “I am happy and have no issues with that (the decision). I am not disappointed,” the police chief said, adding that it won’t be a legitimate thing to comment further on the decision made by the selection panel.
Julka, a 1979 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, retired as Information and Broadcasting Secretary in August last year.
His batchmate and retired IPS officer Sinha last served as Secretary (security) in the Cabinet Secretariat after a long stint in the Intelligence Bureau during which he headed the prestigious Operations unit.
Bhattacharya, a 1980-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, retired in 2013 after serving as Chairman, Staff Selection Commission.