Governor Ramen Deka administers oath to Chief Information Commissioner and two State Information Commissioners; ceremony attended by ministers, senior officials and eminent citizens
TFP Bureau, Raipur, January 19, 2026: In a significant development aimed at strengthening transparency and the Right to Information framework in the state, Governor Shri Ramen Deka on Monday administered the oath of office to Shri Amitabh Jain as the new Chief Information Commissioner of the Chhattisgarh State Information Commission. Along with him, Shri Umesh Kumar Agrawal and Shri Shirish Chandra Mishra were sworn in as State Information Commissioners at a formal ceremony held at the Chhattisgarh Mandapam in Lok Bhavan, Raipur.
The oath-taking ceremony was conducted by Chief Secretary Shri Vikas Sheel in the presence of ministers, senior bureaucrats, former information commissioners and other distinguished guests, lending the occasion both administrative and institutional significance.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Shri Ramen Deka extended his best wishes to the newly appointed Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioners, expressing confidence that their experience and commitment would further strengthen transparency, accountability and good governance in Chhattisgarh. He said the State Information Commission plays a crucial role in protecting citizens’ right to information and in reinforcing democratic values by ensuring openness in public administration.
The ceremony was attended by Revenue, Sports and Youth Welfare and Disaster Management Minister Shri Tankram Verma; Minister for Skill Development, Technical Education and Employment and Scheduled Caste Development Shri Guru Khushwant Saheb; MLA Shri Purandar Mishra; Director General of Police Shri Arun Dev Gautam; Secretary to the Governor Dr. C.R. Prasanna; and Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri Subodh Singh. Several Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of various departments of the State Government were also present.
Also in attendance were Acting Chairperson of the Chhattisgarh Human Rights Commission Shri Giridhari Nayak; State Information Commissioner Shri Alok Chandravanshi; former Information Commissioners Shri Manoj Trivedi, Shri Ashok Agrawal and Shri Dhanvendra Jaiswal; and Secretary of the State Information Commission Shri Neelam Nagdev Ekka. Senior officers, representatives from different institutions, members of the media fraternity and other eminent citizens were also present at the event.
It is noteworthy that the newly appointed Chief Information Commissioner Shri Amitabh Jain is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and former Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh, known for his long administrative experience and deep understanding of governance and public policy. State Information Commissioner Shri Umesh Kumar Agrawal is also a retired IAS officer, bringing with him decades of administrative expertise, while Shri Shirish Chandra Mishra has a strong background in journalism and public affairs, adding a diverse and citizen-centric perspective to the Commission.
With the appointment of experienced professionals from administration and journalism, the Chhattisgarh State Information Commission is expected to further enhance its effectiveness in ensuring timely disposal of cases, protecting citizens’ right to information and strengthening transparency in governance. The new leadership is anticipated to play a key role in reinforcing public trust and promoting accountable administration across the state.
