AP appoints 3 RTI chiefs

Amaravati: Three persons on Monday were appointed as State Information Commissioners after a long gap. The new Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Penetha, on the very first day of his service on the coveted post, appointed three members as State Information Commissioners for five years on Monday.

The government appointed two retired officials and one TDP leader for these top posts. Retired IFS official M Ravi Kumar, another retired IPS official BV Ramana Kumar and TDP leader and Advocate Katta Janardhana Rao, are appointed as Commissioners under the Right to Information Act. In fact, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has finalised these three-member names in July and sent to Raj Bhavan for approval.

Janardhana Rao, is native of Kadapa district and working as advocate in High Court from last 32 years, who is also advisor to the TDP legal cell. BV Ramana Kumar, former IPS officer hailing from Krishna district and Matangi Ravi Kumar, retired IFS officer, residing in Guntur district. The decision was finalised after holding three meetings.

Chief Minister’s Office sources explained that despite repeated consultations, Leader of Opposition and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy did not attend to participate in the meeting before finalising the names of these three members. On the other hand, a separate notification will be released for appointment of the Chief Commissioner of RTI, officials informed.