AN Tiwari named new Chief Information Commissioner

Anugraha Narayan Tiwari has been named as the new Chief Information Commissioner. He will succeed Wajahat Habibullah.

However, Anugraha's tenure will last just three months, as he would turn 65 on December 31, 2010.

Official sources said the name of Tiwari, a 1969 batch IAS officer and former secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training, has been cleared and forwarded to the President for appointment as successor to Habibullah who demits office on Wednesday.

Though he was born in Orissa's Navapara district, he received his education in Allahabad.

He served as secretary to former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Tiwari said he was informed about the decision on Tuesday night.

One of the senior-most Information Commissioners, Tiwari joined the transparency panel on December 26, 2005. In one of the path-breaking decisions, Tiwari brought the Income Tax returns of political parties under public scrutiny.

As per the provisions of the RTI Act when an Information Commissioner is appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner, the aggregate of tenure should not exceed five years.

The Chief Information Commissioner is chosen by a committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and a minister of the Union Cabinet.