Rajagopal, first IAS officer to serve as CIC

According to a government order, “Former CIC Sheela Priya, ceased to hold the post of state CIC after attaining the age of 65 years as on May 4, this year. Following her retirement, Governor has decided to appoint Rajagopal as the new CIC of Tamil Nadu State Information Commission.” 

The newly appointed CIC will hold the post for three years. Earlier, in the RTI Act of 2005, the tenure of CIC was five years which was reduced to three years in the recent amendment to RTI Act. Though the tenure has been curtailed to three years, Rajagopal can be selected for another term as CIC or he can be elevated to central Information Commission. On Monday, a meeting to select new CIC was held at the Secretariat.

In the meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami the report of search committee headed by Justice S R Singaravelu was discussed with state Minister for Personnel and Administrative Reforms D Jayakumar and the recommendations were submitted to Governor Banwarilal Purohit. 

Rajagopal, a 1984 batch IAS officer, has been serving as Governor’s Secretary for the past two years, since November 2017. Recently, in the runup for post of Chief Secretary Rajagopal had a close contest with former Finance Secretary K Shanmugam but the latter was chosen as Chief Secretary by the State government. Rajagopal will be fifth CIC following the retirement of Sheela Priya. 

Meanwhile, Anandrao Vishnu Patil, Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Housing Board, was transferred and posted as Secretary to Governor.