West Bengal DGP’s spouse named State data commissioner

The Authorities of West Bengal nominated two new data commissioners to the West Bengal Info Fee on Wednesday (March 19, 2025).

One of many nominees is retired Indian Income Providers (IRS) officer Sanchita Kumar, who’s the spouse of the West Bengal Director Normal of Police (DGP), Rajeev Kumar. The opposite is Mriganko Mahato, former Trinamool Congress MP, and former member of the West Bengal Public Service Fee.

The choice was taken at a gathering chaired by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Additionally current was Minister for Parliamentary Affairs within the West Bengal Meeting, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay.

Chief of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who can be a part of the three-member committee, stayed away from the assembly. In a letter addressed to the Division of Administrative and Private Reforms, Mr. Adhikari had on March 11 raised the problem of the rape and homicide of a submit graduate trainee physician at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical School and Hospital and stated that so long as perpetrators of the crime, together with WB authorities officers and influential politicians of the ruling get together within the State usually are not jailed, his “conscience” wouldn’t enable him to attend a gathering with the Chief Minister.

This isn’t the primary time that the Chief of Opposition has not participated in a gathering with the Chief Minister on the appointment of members of quasi judicial our bodies, paving the best way for the State Authorities to appoint members of its alternative.

Adhikari’s boycott

Mr. Adhikari stayed away from at the least half a dozen such conferences, together with in December 2023, when the State Authorities appointed members to the West Bengal Human Rights Fee. The LOP stated that the assembly was a “mere eyewash that has solely been deliberate by the ruling dispensation to present impact to favouritism.”

RTI activist Biswanath Goswami, nonetheless, stated that by not collaborating, the LOP is simply making issues simpler for the federal government and permitting it to nominate nominees of its alternative. “The LOP may have participated and given a dissent observe, which may have been challenged earlier than a courtroom. Not collaborating in conferences to nominate members to quasi judicial our bodies is evading duty and making issues simpler for the State Ggovernment,” Mr. Goswami stated.

Too shut for consolation

In accordance to studies, 9 functions had been obtained for the submit of State Info Commissioner, which included journalists, authorized professionals, and a retired IPS officer who has served as DG and IGP Railways. The nomination of Ms. Kumar, who served as Principal Commissioner (Earnings Tax) Shillong and took voluntary retirement, has raised questions in political and administrative circles. significantly as a result of Mr. Kumar is perceived to be shut to the Chief Minister.

Ms. Banerjee reinstated Rajeev Kumar because the DGP in July 2024, months after the Election Fee of India eliminated him through the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In February 2019, the West Bengal Chief Minister sat on a dharna for a number of days after CBI officers tried to enter the police officer’s residence to allegedly query him in reference to the Saradha chit fund rip-off. Rajeev Kumar was the Commissioner of Kolkata Police in 2019.

The West Bengal Info Fee is headed by Virendra, former DGP of West Bengal Police, and Naveen Prakash, retired IAS officer. Activists like Mr. Goswami have typically raised questions in regards to the tardy functioning of quasi-judicial our bodies within the State that present “submit retirement alternatives for retired bureaucrats”.