New Delhi: Nomination of Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge to the selection panel for Chief Information Commissioner was "highly belated" realisation in the government to involve opposition in high-level appointments, the party said on Wednesday.
"The government's realisation is highly belated on the principle (of involving the opposition) which is applying across the board. Why they are scared of involving the opposition," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.
He prefaced his remark by saying that Congress was not asking for anything, but the government would feel the need to have credibility to the high-level appointments.
Kharge was recently inducted into the three-member selection committee which will select the Chief Information Commissioner.
As per file notings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who heads the panel, has nominated Defence Minister Arun Jaitely, besides Kharge to the committee.
The decision to include Kharge has been taken on the advice of the Law Ministry as there was lack of clarity on the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.
The RTI Act requires that selection of the Chief Information Commissioner be done by a three-member panel comprising the Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and a Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
